Langley’s Drive Gala raising coin for children

This article was written by Roxanne Hooper and originally published by the Langley Advance Times.

At $325 a ticket, this weekend’s Drive Gala is expected to generate a bountiful windfall for vulnerable children and youth in the community.

Langley Community Health & Hospital Foundation (formerly the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation) is counting down the days to its Oct. 4 gala, once again being presented by Mike and Leanne Laurin.

For the second year in a row, it’s being held in the Mercedes-Benz Langley dealership on the bypass. The grand showroom is being transformed for the evening, complete with a driving theme.

Guests will enjoy a three-course Mediterranean-inspired dinner, live entertainment by Blink Acrobatics and DJ Lucas Pardy, a Formula One-inspired bar, custom candy station, live and silent auctions, and a West Jet trip raffle.

The 34th annual foundation gala will combine the excitement of Formula One racing with the spirit of community philanthropy, said foundation executive director Heather Scott.

Funds raised will help launch Langley’s first Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC), a supportive space where children and youth can report abuse and heal in an environment built on privacy and respect, Scott explained.

Langley’s CYAC, overseen by Langley-based Encompass Support Services Society, closes a critical gap in local services for children and young people who’ve experienced abuse.

Using a “Circle of Care” approach, the centre brings together professionals such as family development workers, RCMP liaisons, and Indigenous counsellors to support each child’s unique needs.

Each young person is enabled to share their story just once in a safe setting, while professionals gather the information they need for investigation and ongoing care, Scott said.

In B.C., one in three children experiences some form of abuse. Of more than 22,000 potential victims in the community, only about 2,000 report their abuse, and even fewer receive the care and support they need.

“This evening is more than a fundraiser. It’s about bringing our donor community together and joining the foundation’s community partners to build a haven for children who have endured the unthinkable,” Scott said.

“Every child deserves to be heard, believed, and supported. With the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, we are creating a place where that can finally happen in Langley.”

Last year’s Electric Gala brought together 344 guests who helped raise more than $315,000 to support advanced imaging equipment for Langley Memorial Hospital’s medical teams. Scott is hopeful to equal or exceed that amount this weekend.