Some “difficult decisions” are in store for Big Brothers Big Sisters Edmonton if they can’t sell the remainder of their dream home lottery tickets.
With less than a month before the big draw, ticket sales are slowly inching their way towards 60 per cent this week.
The lottery, which awards the grand-prize winner the choice between three St. Albert homes, is the organization’s largest fundraiser and was expected to contribute $750,000 to its $6 million annual budget.
At this pace, the organization may only see $350,000 in profits.
Spokesperson Lana Tordoff said this would leave the not-for-profit to play an unpleasant “volume game.” The fundraising efforts are meant to help 700 children access afterschool programming and mentoring. The shortage of charitable dollars will force the organization to shift resource, ultimately leaving some children without access to hot meals, a safe place to hang out or do homework, and “support from a caring adult who is able to support them in ways that sometimes stop after school hours.”
“I think about a typical child that come through our programs, whether it s mentoring or a club program, often these are kids from single-parent families or families that are working two jobs. There’s no place for that child to go after school,” said Tordoff. “The most vulnerable time for a child is between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.”
Earlier this year STARS Alberta was at risk of not selling out its annual lottery for the first time since the emergency service was established 23 years ago.
After putting a call out to Albertans in late February, the emergency service was able to raise the remaining $2 million in three days.
The netted $11.5 million is a little more than the amount needed to run one of its three bases.
As a show of gratitude STARS placed stickers under the nose cone of the BK117 helicopters and the tail boom of the AW139 helicopters that read: “Times are tough, Albertans are tougher.”
It’s not only lotteries that are struggling to bring in much-needed cash flow to these not-for-profits. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evening gala and golf tournament are also at risk of underperforming since corporate sponsors are unable to donate in the same way as previous years.
LoSeCa, a service provider for people with developmental disabilities, saw a slight decline in their silent auction ticket sales this fall.
“We still considered it a success,” said executive director Carmen Horpestad, who understands that many need to be prudent with their discretionary income.
“I know our supporters, if they haven’t been able to contribute this year, if they ever have the opportunity to again they will,” she added, “but with our economy you just have to go with the flow and appreciate what people can do for us.”
For St. Albert’s Rock’n April benefit concert low-ticket sales have been an issue for the past five years. That’s part of the reason the organizing committee changed the date from August.
Unfortunately, whether it’s due to the economy or not, spring has not proved any kinder. Michael Howes, one of the organizers, said that two days before the event, ticket sales are closing in on 400 – a far cry from the 1,000 seats available.
The concert – this year starring Kenny Shields & Streetheart with special guest Dash Riprock – raises funds for the Alberta Diabetes Association. Howes says at the end of the day it’s the charity that misses out.
“We all have a great time at the party, and we generally seem to break even, but our personal goal was to make $20,000 at each of these concerts,” he said. “We figure if we’ve done five of these we should have made $100,000 for Alberta Diabetes by now and we haven’t. We’re wondering after this one if we should try something different.”
Tordoff is hopeful that the capital region will pull through for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“I think there’s still opportunity for us to be successful this year, we just have to keep at it,” she said.
Locals have already shown generosity through a surge of new volunteers, but ultimately the service first needs to meet the demand, which is proving difficult in an economy that acts as a double edged sword: increasing demand while thinning out charitable donations.
