For the third year in a row, two friends joined together to belt out karaoke tunes in support of Nellie’s Shelter. But this wasn’t your average karaoke night out; this was Karaoke for a Cause organized by Carrie Adelstein and MJ Cyr.
Held on March 23, 2019 at the Centre for Social Innovation on Bathurst Street, over 100 people came out to party, laugh, dance, and sing their hearts out alongside By Request Live Band Karaoke to raise money for Nellie’s. And raise money they did! Through donations at the event, as well as online donations from supporters who couldn’t make it, Carrie and MJ raised $3,500!
Add that to the amounts they raised at the previous two events, and their “little fundraising party” has raised a total of $7,500 over the last 3 years!
“I like the idea that we’re women helping women,” says MJ, who works at the AGO. “Everything that Nellie’s does and stands for are in line with what we believe in and what we stand for.”
Adds Carrie, an Arbonne consultant: “It’s unfortunate that women’s shelters are something that are still needed. But the more they are still needed, the more we want to help Nellie’s and give back.”
They organized their first karaoke fundraiser in 2017 in just 10 days. At that time, Carrie and MJ simply wanted a chance to sing together while also raising a little money for their charity of choice. A few dozen friends and a live karaoke band later, and the pair accomplished both goals. Since then, the event has grown from a simple party fundraiser, to a major event with a committee of volunteers and over 100 guests singing along in support of Nellie’s.
“We hope we can inspire other people to do their own version of whatever they want to do to help their community. We’re helping Nellie’s Shelter and helping other women but what we’re actually doing is something really simple that anyone can do to make a difference,” says MJ.
Carrie and MJ are already dreaming big for next year’s Karaoke for a Cause. “You don’t have to be a charity yourself, or affiliated with a charity, to give back and raise money for a cause you believe in. It can just start with ‘hey, let’s throw a party and see what we can do.’ That’s all you need to make a difference because from there, it can snowball into something incredible,” says Carrie.
Thank you, Carrie and MJ! Your generosity these last three years means so much to the women and their children who come to Nellie’s. We’re already warming up our vocal chords for next year’s Karaoke for a Cause!
Want to create your own fundraising event in support of Nellie’s? We can help you get started! Contact Helen Stalker at helen@nellies.org.
