Volunteers are the heart and soul of any successful event, and this year’s The Mane Event in support of the Langley School District Foundation’s autism assessment initiative, ensures all that volunteer effort helps others in the community.
One of the fundraiser’s biggest cheerleaders is long-time volunteer Amber Illies, who has been part of the organizing committee since 2017.
She attended what was formerly known as the Grand Prix Gala at Thunderbird Show Park in 2016 and fell in love. She’s now a big part of the fundraiser, renamed The Mane Event, coming up Sunday, May 25, from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Thunderbird Show Park.
“I loved it so much. I actually went up to one of the organizers and said, ‘I love this event, I want to be part of this next year’,” Illies said.
“The setting at Thunderbird Show Park, it’s not even my world. I was just so enchanted and felt so lucky to be watching this,” she shared.
Like many events, the gala – which started in 2005 – was put on hold during the pandemic, and the foundation’s executive director, Alicia Rempel, put her own spin on it when the fundraiser came back last year as The Mane Event.
“It’s the same concept, just revitalized,” said Rempel.
She and Illes have a mutual admiration of each other and what they bring to the fundraiser.
“We’re trying to raise $50,000 with this event. She’s been quite instrumental in helping,” Rempel said of Illes’ efforts.
The Mane Event has a fancy feel with women donning fascinators, wine tastings from Bordertown Winery and Lakeside Cellars, beer samples from Trading Post Brewing, a silent auction, canapes, live entertainment from guitarist Joh Gilliat, and much more.
It’s a lot of work in the days leading up to, the day before and the day of the event, but Illes and the other organizers are prepared.
“This committee is just an amazing group to work with,” Illes commented. “It’s working with people who are like-minded, who care a lot about supporting our community. The planning committee starts meeting in February. My main role is going out and asking our community for donations. Either cash donations or silent auction items.”
Another thing Illes asks for is cake. Alongside the traditional silent auction is a cake auction where local bakeries donate cakes and other baked goods for guests to bid on.
“There’s a day where we put together the whole silent auction,” she said. “Preparing the silent auction is a big thing I help with. Then, the night before, there’s a couple of hours where we set up.”
Games also round out the fun and Illes said Rempel added a few activities guests really seemed to love last year – because they all sold out. One was bubbles and bling, where people can buy a sealed bag for $50, for their chance at finding diamond earrings inside.
“All the bags have cubic zirconias and one has a pair of diamond earrings donated from one of our local jewellers,” Illes explained.
Another game is the corks-and-crops wine contest where, for $25, guests can choose a bag with a bottle of wine in it. Each with a value of $25 to $75.
“You decide if you want red or white,” she noted. “There’s no way to lose in that game, you get your value.”
There is also a champagne welcome and Illes walks around throughout the event, greeting guests, helping her fellow volunteers and making sure everyone is having a good time.
“I’m a retired teacher, but I’m actually back working in schools on an on-call basis,” she said. “I love supporting this community through the foundation. It supports the kids with all kinds of extra programs. The kids are important to me. There’s a long wait list of families waiting to have their children assessed [for autism]. It’s an amazing event with fun, and a bonus is that I’m able to further support Langley children and Langley families.”
She said with all the fun and surprises it’s a unique event that allows guests to have a great time and help out a great cause.
“It’s a magical place,” Illes concluded. “You feel like you’re in a very special, magical place.”
Tickets for the Mane Event are $125 while a VIP pass is $175 and includes a swag bag and VIP seating with a view of the grand prix qualifying horse jumping.
