Publican - ABLE BC

BC HospitalityFoundationby Renee BlackstoneWith a new look, a new chapter forming onVancouver Island, and a redesigned website,2011 is shaping up to be the best year yet forthe BC Hospitality Foundation. A full scheduleof fundraising events and growing support fromindividual businesses is also stoking the fires ofenthusiasm for all the BCHF is doing and hopesto do.The biggest fundraising event, the 4th annualBCHF Golf Tournament - supported by the Allianceof Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC), the BC HotelAssociation (BCHA), and the BC Restaurant andFoodservices Association (BCRFA) - was held onJuly 18 at the spectacular Westwood Plateau Golfand Country Club. This year's tournament includeda casual pre-golf lunch, driving range, golf carts,on-course food and beverage, skill competitions,reception, full buffet dinner and much more.The foundation will also launch an industry-widefundraiser this fall that it hopes will becomethe mainstay of its annual fundraising efforts.According to BCHF Business Manager AlanSacks, “Tip Out to Help will give everyone in theindustry the opportunity to be involved, fromline cooks to housekeeping staff, from servers toCEOs. Imagine if we could raise just one tooniea year from everyone working in the industry.”The Okanagan Wine Festival Society will be thecampaign’s title sponsor. For more details go towww.tipouttohelp.com.A new chapter is forming in Victoria to supportand enlarge the foundation's work on VancouverIsland. “I'm excited by the wonderful group ofenthusiastic volunteers who will help us developthe foundation’s profile on the Island,” says boardchairman Geoffrey Howes. “This is the start of'chapter development' that will ensure that theBCHF is not Vancouver-centric,” As well, the BCHFhas a new look for all its business and promotionalmaterials, a colourful logo that better reflects thefoundation's mission of “working together tohelp our own.”Meanwhile, other organizations and individualbusinesses are making the BCHF beneficiaries oftheir own special events. The Okanagan's BlueMountain Vineyard and Cellars raised $7,000 forthe foundation by hosting an evening of finefood and wine at Vancouver’s Four Seasons Hotelin January while The Canadian Restaurant andFoodservices Association held a breakfast at theirJanuary trade show to benefit the foundation.On June 17, more than 400 people attended Dishn’Dazzle at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver.The event, produced by Wines of Chile to benefitthe foundation, featured 23 Chilean wineries,fabulous food from 12 local restaurants, and sixcreative bartenders competing in a cocktail “shakedown”. The event raised more than $20,000.Events such as these are of tremendous help tothe BCHF, explains Sacks. “Third-party fundraisingis the most efficient form of revenue generationfor the foundation. We encourage companies toconsider the BCHF as a beneficiary for their nextevent - be it a golf tournament, dinner, or otheractivity.”With so much going on, and in order to ensurethat every dollar raised goes to fulfillingthe foundation's mandate, volunteers arekey to every successful event, says Sacks.If you can help, please email Sacks atasacks@bchospitalityfoundation.com.Renee Blackstone is a member of the BCHF Advisory Board.Visit uson the web!• Marketing Tips• Past Issues• Editorial Schedule• Advertising Ratesemcmarketing.com32 The Publican