Winter's Final Fling
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Winter’s final fling will hopefully be long gone when the Lioness’s Winter’s Final Fling event goes on Thursday April 4th at the Lion’s auditorium, at 45 Hardy St. Sorry boys, this is a woman’s night out, but I don’t think you will complain when you think about it, because you would be spending a whole night in a large auditorium filled with women. Can you imagine the decibel level in there?
There are many good reasons for attending this dinner and evening of entertainment. This is a great way to perk up after the weird winter we have had and although summer’s sun is not yet with us, a scrumptious dinner and an evening with song and laughter will definitely chase those blues away!
For the song part, the Lioness’s have Tillsonburg’s own Jude Coyle, a fantastic singer and Queen of Karaoke! Jude is known for hosting Karaoke evenings, and has won awards doing so, but I’d rather just listen to this woman sing. Her voice is a powerhouse that gives each song the exact amount of power required to sing to you softly or belt one out like Barbra Streisand. The thing that sets Jude apart from many other singers is that she can act as well. So you get the extra, added punch, that makes her songs just right.
Jackie Wells is the guest humourist for the evening. Jackie is a retired Registered Nurse who worked at the VON for years. She has received the highest award that a Rotarian can win: the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal; has a husband two children and assorted grandchildren. All these wonderful life experiences and achievements can be used to make you laugh. Having been in nursing myself, I know there are enough nursing stories alone that can be used to keep you laughing for hours!
Those are the reasons you will go and have a great time, but I want to tell you what your good time does for the Tillsonburg Lioness Club. Winter’s Last Fling is one of their big fundraisers and put together with their summer golf tournament these ladies are able to do a lot of good in our community, with the funds they raise.
I specifically asked them if I might let you know what groups they help, as I find most of us in town don’t truly understand how lucky we are to have the service groups we have in Tillsonburg nor understand how much they actually do. I think you will be impressed.
The Lionesses donate $2,000 every year to the Tillsonburg Community Centre for the children's summer day program, to help pay for children from low-income families and those with Children’s Aid, allowing them to have a bit fun that other kids enjoy. We don’t often take the time to realize that families who need assistance from the food bank, can’t afford to let their children enjoy any of the summer programs in town, so that is a great spot for the Lionesses to find children who would love a week of fun.
They give $200 each, to actual summer camps outside of Tillsonburg, including Camp Dorset, Camp Huronda and A-2 Youth Exchange.
They also donate to Camp Trillium on Rainbow Lake, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, the Lion’s homes for the deaf and blind, and Lake Joseph Holiday Centre for blind, all of whom benefit people from Tillsonburg and area.
Like other groups in town they have had ‘Coffee Time’, to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Oxford and have donated $4,000 to ALS and $7,000 to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
That is more than many groups do but these ladies are not done yet! They give four scholarships to Glendale School graduates of $200 each. Big Brothers, Big sisters of Ingersoll/Tillsonburg receive $200. They give Tillsonburg Community Living $200 as well as the Oxford County Cancer Society for patient transportation. The Domestic Abuse Services Oxford receives $500 for Tillsonburg area. Youth for Christ here in Tillsonburg, receives $250.
Now the one gift they give, that makes me smile, is the birthday party in December for the residents of Caressant Care Courtland. What a wonderful way to brighten the lives of the those in long-term care, after all who doesn’t perk up with cake, ice cream and a small gift? (I do hope it is chocolate cake!)
So throw off winter and welcome spring by calling Ruby a call at 519-842-3900 (or any Lioness member you know) and get a ticket for April 4th. Lion’s Auditorium doors open at 6 p.m., with supper at 7 p.m. Isn’t it wonderful know this $30 cost is not only going to give you a great time, but help to support all the wonderful work the Lionesses do?