What do you get when you combine designer handbags, 500 guests, and a wonderful cause? Handbags for Hospice, of course!
On Thursday, June 13, 2019, I had the pleasure of attending Handbags for Hospice. Although I was born and raised in London, this was my first time at the event. I recently moved back to London and started work as an associate lawyer at Lerners LLP. One thing that drew me to Lerners was its commitment to supporting the community. Handbags for Hospice is just one of the many charitable events that Lerners sponsors.
Handbags for Hospice is a yearly fundraiser that raises money for an important organization in our community, St. Joseph’s Hospice. The event is a lot of fun and a great opportunity to add something new to your purse collection. During the live auction, ten handbags and experiences were auctioned off, including a beautiful Louis Vuitton purse, a stunning Valentino, and a backstage pass to see the Arkells. There is also a “wine wall” and a silent auction with many tempting purses and experiences to bid on.
My favourite part of the evening was the “Fund-a-Need”. St. Joseph’s Hospice offers professional bereavement counselling to family members grieving the loss of their loved one. In order to continue to provide this important support to our community, St. Joseph’s Hospice sought to raise an additional $20,000.
We heard from one of the many people who has benefited from the counselling services offered by St. Joseph’s Hospice – Kate Courey. Kate’s mom was diagnosed with cancer and benefited from the warm and compassionate support at St. Joseph’s Hospice. As Kate described it, the hospice became a home for her family. Following her mother’s passing, Kate returned to St. Joseph’s Hospice for bereavement counselling. Kate’s story was incredibly moving. After she was done speaking, the audience was on their feet and I don’t think there was a single dry eye in the room. Kate’s story reminded us of the important work that St. Joseph’s Hospice does for families and it’s no wonder the hospice easily exceeded its fundraising goal of $20,000.
All in all, I had a great time at Handbags for Hospice. This event is a lot of fun, but it also supports an organization in our community that does very meaningful work. I can’t wait until next year and hope to see you there!
