In a rain of thunder, 737 golf balls were dropped outside of Finlandia Village this afternoon, one of which belonged to Eric LaChance, winner of the second annual SISU Ball Drop and $10,000 prize.
LaChance may have claimed the grand prize, but if you ask executive director of the Finlandia SISU Charitable Foundation Patricia Clizia, it was a "win for all of the residents here at the village." Through the success of this event, Finlandia Village will be able to refurbish their senior's spa with a $20,000 tub designed for their resident's mental and physical comfort.
The fundraiser was able to raise an estimated $37,000 for the renovation, through the sale of golf balls at $50 a piece, sponsorship and donations of various amounts. These funds are used to cover the cost of the tub, the $10,000 cash lottery, as well as the operating costs of this and future SISU events.
Facilities such as Finlandia Village are constantly undergoing changes to ensure their equipment and infrastructure is safe and up-to-date technologically, said chair of the SISU Foundation's board of directors, Brian Koivu. But the spa rooms in particular, of which Finlandia Village has four, had been identified by residents as a priority.
While Koivu said Finlandia Village does their best to mirror a home-like experience, their 20-year-old tub rooms remained "institutional in nature." He said the tub-rooms were intimidating for seniors and a serious concern when caring for those with dementia, who are generally uncomfortable with being lifted off the ground.
With one room renovated, one funded and two to go, Finlandia Village is halfway toward their goal of a safer, more comfortable seniors' spa for all thanks to the support of the Greater Sudbury community.
