Dan’s Legacy will be celebrating the achievements of its youth clients and thanking the community for its support at its one-and-only fundraiser of the year.
The non-profit’s 11th annual Chefs’ Charity Dinner is taking place in New Westminster on Saturday, Nov. 16. At the event, gourmet guest chefs will each prepare a signature dish using recovered food.
“Come on out, enjoy the gourmet dishes prepared by our chefs (everything is made using recovered food so it’s delicious and environmentally friendly) and help raise funds for our free counselling and wrap-around programs for at-risk youth,” said Barbara Coates, executive director.
The New West-based non-profit provides a variety of programs, including job skills training, trauma-informed therapy and recovery, Indigenous cultural workshops, and others.
It also operates Dan’s Diner, a social enterprise where students prepare soups, stews, curries, chilis and other items under the direction of professional chefs, learn professional cooking skills, business management, and life skills. Dan’s Diner is open to the public Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed on stat holidays) at 150 – 131 11th St.
Funds raised at the Nov. 16 event will go directly towards the organization’s trauma-informed, no-barrier counselling programs for youth at-risk in New Westminster and across Metro Vancouver.
“Our therapists, social workers and outreach workers go directly to the youth wherever they are. We embed our therapists in local community organizations, making it even easier for the youth to find us. Our office and Dan’s Diner social enterprise are located in New Westminster, and locally we’re working directly with Aunt Leah’s Place, the Purpose Society, Union Gospel Mission, and Burnaby Neighbourhood House in the community next door,” said a notice from Dan’s Legacy. “Dan’s Legacy is a growing organization, gaining a significant presence in the Lower Mainland. We are very proud to be able to work with 16 community organizations, including our most recent partner the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society of Langley.”
The dinner is taking place at the Freemasons Hall at 508 Agnes St. The reception and silent auction get underway at 6 p.m. and the dinner and formal program run from 7 to 9 p.m. (Cocktail attire is recommended.)
Coates said the charity dinner is a fun, relaxed, family-style event but with a touch of sparkle – kind of like a family holiday party.
“This fundraiser is the one time each year we get to thank the community for its support, as well as celebrate the achievements of our clients,” she told the Record. “We’ll be talking primarily about what we’re doing in New Westminster, and maybe a bit of Burnaby, so our message is aimed directly at the local audience.”
Tickets are $100 (partial tax reception available) and can be purchased online.
