The Third Street strip leading to the Boyle Community Centre was lined up with an amount of cars rivaling the King’s extensive Cadillac collection last Friday night as over 350 residents came out for an evening with Elvis impersonator Adam Fitzpatrick, otherwise known as Elvis Evolution.
Between dinner tickets, a silent auction and a raffle, the Viva Las Vegas event helped raise around $25,000 for the new Boyle Seniors Drop-In Centre.
“The funds we raised tonight will be going towards a new commercial stainless steel dishwasher, but, I think we’re going to do better than that and the money will go toward the kitchen in a lot more ways,” said organizer Terry Mudryk-Harbarenko.
The sold-out show featured local politicians Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater MLA Colin Piquette and Elvis enthusiast Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs.
Before the King took to the stage, Piquette re-iterated the province’s support – $350,000.
Athabasca County councillor Jack Dowhaluk spoke about the county’s memorandum of understanding with the Village of Boyle to contribute over half a million dollars over two years toward the building complex to be shared with the three components.
“The necessary documents were just signed last week so everything is on the go,” he said.
The evening was put together by volunteers. The Boyle Betterment Society and the local Senior’s Society handled the organization, while the Lion’s Club manned the bar. Others kept people well-fed.
Mudryk-Harbarenko said the money will be handed over to the centre in the near future.
“I am overwhelmed with the generosity and support we received from the community,” she noted. “As event organizer of this fundraiser, I am beyond ecstatic about the results.”
