The minds behind A Night at the Grotto doled out the fruit of their labours Thursday, dispersing $40,000 among four different organizations in Sudbury.
Lucio Fabris said the Sept. 1 event brought nearly 1,500 people to The Grotto, which he considers one of Greater Sudbury's hidden gems.
The funds raised went to support the Grotto itself, the Janis Foligno Foundation, the Northern Initiative for Social Action (NISA) and NEO Kids Foundation.
A Night at the Grotto featured a variety of local musicians.
“A sincere thank you to all of the people that came to celebrate A Night at the Grotto, the many volunteers who helped make the Grotto such a magical place and those who helped with the event,” Fabris said.
The Janis Foligno Foundation was created in memory of Janis Foligno, who passed away in 2009 after a battle with cancer. The foundation funds initiatives that help improve patient care and clinical advancement.
Mike Foligno, president of the foundation, said in a news release the foundation is honoured to be one of the recipients.
“Where else in Sudbury could you have seen such a scenic array of lights surrounding the Fountain of Life, the sounds of incredible music, and then witness the phenomenon of the Northern Lights at once? It was breathtaking, to say the least,” Foligno said.
NEO Kids Foundation raises funds for children's services, equipment and research at Health Sciences North. The goals of the foundation are to provide more support for families and better access to care for children in the North.
“A Night at the Grotto truly brought our community together for a great cause,” said Mick Weaver, board chair, NEO Kids Foundation.
“Lucio, along with the entire committee of organizers and volunteers, should be very proud of the success of this first-time event. NEO Kids could not be happier to be a recipient of such a meaningful event.”
NISA is a member-driven initiative for consumers of mental health services, with the goal to provide resources for recovery by creating opportunities for participants to contribute to their own well-being.
“We were so touched by the news that NISA would be a recipient of the dollars raised by A Night at the Grotto, and we are so grateful for the support,” said Dinah Laprairie, executive director. “This money will increase our capacity to support people in our community who are struggling with mental health challenges. We have included the Grotto in NISA's programming in the last couple years, because it is a beautiful place to find solace, right here in the downtown.”
