Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center raises $5,000 with Valentine’s dinner
By Rachelle Hughes
The Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center felt the love at its second annual Valentine’s dinner fundraiser this February to raise funds to serve survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The event, held at Southern Utah University’s Great Hall, sold 170 tickets and raised $5,000, more than double the ticket sales of last year’s event. The SUU jazz band entertained throughout the evening as couples and groups arrived to enjoy a three-course meal prepared by SUU Dining Services. SUU Dining Services cooks, prep line, and some of their servers all donated their time for the evening.
“Many of us have ties to the community, and we support and admire what Canyon Creeks does for it,” said Natasha Green with SUU Dining Services. “Participating in the Valentine’s dinner is an opportunity for us (both management and associates) to do something out of the ordinary and focus on what we do best. The kitchen gets crazy here and there, but it’s an adrenaline rush — knowing that what we’re doing behind the scenes is making an impact.”
Decked out in Valentine red and white, the SUU Great Hall saw diners come and go during the event as they arrived for their reservation times. By setting up different seating times, volunteer servers were able to take orders restaurant style, and the cooks were able to cook food in a timely manner. Representatives from the Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center said the event was designed to act as both a fundraiser and an opportunity to celebrate all healthy relationships.
Board member and fundraising chair Tessa Douglas headed up the event and expressed her thanks for the community’s support.
“Thank you to everyone to donated time and energy to make this event happen, and thank you to everyone who supported us by attending,” Douglas said. “Because of you, we were able to raise several thousand dollars for the women’s crisis center. I especially want to thank SUU Dining Services, who so generously donated their time and proceeds for this dinner. I also want to thank SUU for donating the room, the SUU Jazz Band, who provided us with hours of outstanding music, and the volunteers who worked so hard to put this together and to host and serve at the event. Your efforts made a significant impact and will help victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in our community.”
Fundraisers play a vital role in the Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center’s ability to provide services. While a percentage of the center’s operating budget comes from government funds, the rest of its operating budget comes from grants and donations. Many of those grant approvals depend on matching donations from the community.
Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center provides advocacy services and emergency shelter services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Iron, Beaver, and Garfield counties. Services include emergency housing, food and clothing, crisis intervention, information and referral, legal and medical advocacy, support groups, and assistance in creating safety plans and service plans to achieve independence and self-reliance.
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