Bishop’s Dinner raised $25,000 for local community needs

GUELPH – The 20th annual Bishop’s Dinner for Community Needs held on Oct. 13 last year raised over $25,000 for local community organizations.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bishop’s Dinner, this year the Wellington Catholic District School Board returned to an in-person event after two years of hosting virtual fundraisers in response to the pandemic. 

Over 200 people attended the event to share friendship and to support those in need within our community.

This year’s event offered participants the opportunity to make bids on auction items, hear from Wellington Catholic DSB students and the community organizations that the event supports, and enjoy a delicious dinner from the Italian Canadian Club.

“We were so thankful to be able to celebrate our 20th anniversary of this wonderful event and to bring it back in person this year,” said board chair Vikki Dupuis.  

“Our deepest thanks to the many community members and organizations who provided much needed support to this year’s beneficiaries.”

Dupuis noted needs in the community are higher than ever and the organizations the dinner supports are stretched to the limit.

“But we know they make a difference in the lives of so many children and families in Guelph and Wellington and we thank them,” she said.

Organizations receiving support from this year’s event include:

– the Centre Wellington Food Bank;

– Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington;

– the Canadian Mental Health Association; and

– the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Guelph and Wellington County.

“We are so grateful to be a connection for our generous community sponsors with our local organizations and community partners through this event,” said director of education Michael Glazier.

Over the course of its 20-year history, the annual Bishop’s Dinner for Community Needs has raised over $775,000 for community organizations.

“We look forward to celebrating the Bishop’s Dinner next fall and continuing to build on the strong legacy of community support on issues such as food security, mental health, and access to programs for children,” Glazier said.