Brunch helps raise cash for vital respite services
Eating pasta while wearing white can be a dangerous move, but several dozen people took the risk Sunday at a brunch fundraiser to help children with disabilities attend summer day camp.
Local hair boutique Dry Parlour Inc. hosted its fourth annual Brunch en Blanc White Party, a fundraiser for Windsor’s Family Respite Services.
“It’s an awesome collaborative approach because Family Respite cannot operate without community support,” said Alexandria Fischer, community relations co-ordinator with Family Respite Services.
“So when Dry Parlour comes to us and says, ‘We want to collaborate, we want to do something really cool in the community,’ it’s amazing because we rely on that. We could not operate without our partners.”
Guests paid $60 each to don their finest whites while having brunch and cocktails at the Dougall Avenue Spago, which was also adorned with white linens and chandeliers.
The event raised about $10,000 for Family Respite Services, an organization that gives parents short breaks from the demands of caring for children with disabilities. Along with giving parents a break, the program also gives the children a chance to make friends and participate in community activities.
In particular, some of the money raised Sunday will allow 17-yearold Mackenzie Fecteau, who lives with Down syndrome, the chance to go to a day camp.
“She likes to be social, she likes to have a lot of fun, meet new people, and so summer day camp allows Mackenzie to be social with her peers,” said Fischer. “Mackenzie can work on skill development, she can make new friends, be social and have a really good time.”
Some of the money raised Sunday came from New York hairstylist and Project Runway star Gregory Patterson. He helped train the Dry Parlour team and now answers the call whenever they ask for help.
“I always come back because they are family, and share with them fresh techniques and all that good stuff,” said Patterson. “So when they say we have an event that’s charity-based, I say, ‘Tell me when, why and let’s do it, let’s rock it.’ So I offered a full day of cutting and styling and donated 100 per cent of the proceeds to the incredible, incredible event.”
Dry Parlour first approached Family Respite Services four years ago about doing something to help the community. Since then they’ve raise almost $50,000 to send kids to day camps.
To donate or get more information, visit familyrespite.org or send an email to info@familyrespite. org.