On Friday, June 7, 2024 a media launch was held at the Welland Motorcycle Club announcing that The Hope Centre and the Welland County Motorcycle Club have partnered for their annual Biketoberfest Raffle.
This year’s raffle prize is a 2023 Harley Davidson Sportster S Black (valued at $22,000) and the second prize winner will win $2,000 cash. The draw will take place at Biketoberfest on September 21, 2024 at 7 pm.
This partnership opens a lot of opportunities for The Hope Centre to raise awareness about our programs and services and to gain new supporters to help us fulfill our mission .. to assist, support, empower and advocate for the most vulnerable members of the Welland community. The raffle ticket sale proceeds will support The Hope Centre and has potential to raise over $20,000 for our food security programs.
Sean Gillespie, President of the Welland County Motorcycle Club said “the club really feels good inside about this partnership with all the funds going to an amazing group of people at The Hope Centre and this being their 50 years anniversary, it couldnt have been a better time to partner.”
The media launch was attended by Welland’s Mayor Frank Campion, he said “I am pleased with this new partnership between one of our city’s great community supporters – the Welland County Motorcycle Club – and The Hope Centre. The funds raised through the Biketoberfest Raffle will support The Hope Centre and assist members of our community that are struggling to meet their basic needs.”
Tickets are $20 each and are available for purchase as follows:
– Welland County Motorcycle Club Saturday night race nights
– The Hope Centre reception during our office hours
– Clare’s Harley Davidson Sales Counter
– at the BIKETOBERFEST event on Saturday, September 21, 2024, up until 6 pm
IN THE NEWS
Biketoberfest Draw to benefit The Hope Centre
The Source Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Welland’s Hope Centre revved up for motorcycle raffle
Food bank enters new partnership with Welland County Motorcycle Club.
Article posted in the Niagara This Week Tuesday, June 11, 2024
By Mike Zettel
The Welland County Motorcycle Club has decided to shift gears with its annual Biketoberfest fundraiser by entering into a new partnership with a local organization serving the community. In the past, the beneficiary of its annual motorcycle raffle was Pathstone Mental Health. This year, organizers have teamed up with The Hope Centre.
The club has printed some 5,000 tickets which are selling for $20 each, with the top prize being a 2023 Harley Davidson Sportster S Black valued at $22,000. The second prize for the draw, which takes place at the end of the Sept. 21 event, is $2,000.
On Friday, representatives from The Hope Centre met with members at the club to officially launch the partnership and kick off the draw — with Welland Mayor Frank Campion posing atop the prize bike.
In an interview, club president Sean Gillespie said the organization is looking to support a smaller, closer-to-home organization this year after many successful years with Pathstone. Gillespie said he and fellow board member Brian Armstrong recently met with representatives at The Hope Centre and were impressed.
“Brian and I were just amazed by how they were able to — with so little resources, in my opinion — how they were able to do so much,” he said. “We’re all members of a motorcycle club. We all have our bikes, or some of us have too many bikes, and we just don’t realize just how lucky we are until you visit a place like the Hope Centre and see all they do for the city of Welland. It’s an eye-opening experience, that’s for sure.”
This year, the club has also brought back paper tickets for the raffle, Gillespie said, noting there was some push back with the e-tickets used last year.
While it would be fantastic to sell all 5,000 tickets, which would, after the cost of the prizes, raise $75,000 for The Hope Centre, Gillespie said that’s never happened before. He is, however, hopeful of bringing in $30,000 or so for the organization.
“I’d love to sell them all, but we’re really hoping to make a dent in their needs,” he said.
Jennifer Sinclair, community engagement co-ordinator for The Hope Centre, said the organization is thrilled to have this new partnership, noting its marking its 50th anniversary this year.
“It’s helping us spread awareness of the work we’ve been doing in the community for 50 years,” she said.
Tickets are available at the club, located at 603 Netherby Rd., and will also be sold during its Saturday race nights. Tickets can also be purchased at Clare’s at 590 York Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake and during business hours at The Hope Centre at 570 King St., Welland.
Tickets will also be available at the Biketoberfest event on Sept. 21.
Hope Centre partners with Welland County Motorcycle Club, Biktoberfest to raffle motorcycle
Article posted on GiantFM Tuesday, June 11, 2024
A brand new Harley Davidson will be raffled off, with all proceeds going towards The Hope Centre in Welland.
The raffle is part of a partnership between The Hope Centre, the Welland County Motorcycle Club and Biketoberfest, and is the first time The Hope Centre has partnered with these organizations for a fundraising campaign of this scale.
Welland Mayor Frank Campion says its a great example of Welland helping Welland.
Hope Centre CEO Jon Braithwaite says the fundraiser comes at a perfect time, with the food bank serving more people than ever.
Since 1974, The Hope Centre has helped to build and strengthen Welland by supporting the most vulnerable in the Welland community. They offer a wide range of services that help individuals and families in Welland that are facing challenges related to poverty including mental health, addictions, food insecurity and housing instability. In 2023, The Hope Centre had over 19,000 visits to their food bank and served over 32,000 community lunches to help the most vulnerable in the community.
The bike, a Harley Davidson Sportster S Black, will be given away at Biketoberfest in September. Tickets for the raffle are $20, while there’s also a $2000 second place prize in the raffle.