Black Tie Tailgate Raises More Than $100,000

Nearly 400 guests helped raise more than $100,000 at the inaugural Black Tie TailGate on Friday, August 15th at the WFCU Centre.

Spitfire alumni including Adam Henrique, Taylor Hall, Eric Wellwood, Mike Weber and Steve Ott joined members of the business community and friends of the Windsor Spitfires Foundation for an evening of great food and music, featuring Nashville country sensation Jake Maurer.

Spitfires President and Head Coach Bob Boughner, who served as event chair along with his wife Jennifer, says the event exceeded his expectations, both in terms of money raised and fun.

"Throughout the night, in talking to people that were there, it was obvious that everyone had a great time," Boughner said. "People stayed until the very end."

Boughner says he and Mrs. Boughner were in awe of the support.

"It was nice to see the faces of so many people we know. Not only Spitfire corporate sponsors, but lots of other people from the business community and across the region that came purely to lend their support. All people driven and enthused by the fact that the money stays locally."

Money raised will go to Transition To Betterness and the Windsor Spitfires Foundation, which continues to donate back to a variety of local charitable groups and service agencies in Windsor & Essex County.

Congratulations to everyone involved in organizing the event and a big thank you to all those that came out in support.

ABOUT TRANSITION TO BETTERNESS

Transition to Betterness (T2B) is a local Non-profit organization that provides comfort to patients and their family members living with life altering illnesses. T2B was founded in 1997 by two local women who saw the opportunity to make a difference in the surroundings of cancer patients. To date T2B has refurbished several hospital rooms, 3 oncology and palliative units, operates various programs within these units such as the comfort cart, comfort blanket, music therapy, concierge service program, holiday meals program, paediatric oncology unit programs such as the Back the Pack program, nutrition room, and art therapy program. Along with annual funding for their own programs T2B funds other local non-profit organizations with similar missions. T2B believes in giving where you live and keeps all funds raised within Windsor Essex. They have been and remain dedicated to a circle of care that aids people during the struggle of living with cancer and life altering illnesses. The success of the organization is due to the support and diligence of volunteers, donors, third party event hosts and hospital staff.