Mishall RehmanGiving hope to wounded and ill soldiers of the Canadian Armed Forces is a job brothers Deryl and Jim Caruk take pride in with their organization Renos for Heroes. In order to build those dreams into reality, Renos for Heroes will be hosting its fourth annual Hearts for Heroes Gala on Feb.6.
“These soldiers, men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces, those are my heroes because they protect us and they look after democracy and freedom. We know what’s going on in the world today, we have our troops deployed all over…just have a lot more respect for what they’re doing. That’s why we do this for them,” said Deryl Caruk, executive director of Renos for Heroes.
Close to 300 people are expected to attend the Gala, which comprises of cocktail hour with a trio ensemble playing in the backdrop, dinner, dancing and a comedian magician. A live and silent auction will also be held with a signed Connor McDavid jersey, centerman for the Edmonton Oilers, as the big ticket item of the night.
“We’ve got raffle tickets we’ve got hockey tickets. For $170 you’ve got dinner and dancing, refreshments, a beautiful dinner of beef tenderloin and chicken. It’s just a wonderful evening,” noted Caruk.
The Gala kicks off the fundraising year for Renos for Heroes. The non-profit also hosts a golf tournament and a walkathon.
There is no set fundraising target for the Heart for Heroes Gala, but a raising $30,000 to $40,000 will set Renos For Heroes up with enough funds to complete one project. The organization completes a wide range of projects for members of the CAF, who were ill or injured during their service. The team assesses a military member’s house by its safety factor ensuring that in case of an emergency the member can quickly and safely leave their home. Projects have included putting lifts in, lining decks, redoing kitchens and modifying doorways.
“We want the project to be unique to their home and to their needs,” said Caruk.
For this reason, Caruk hopes to see a large turnout on the night of Feb.6.
“I would love for everybody to come out so I can oversell and people are standing in the snow wanting to get in. I would just love for everyone to come down. I’d really also like a lot of military personnel to come down and see what we do,” stated Caruk.
The Hearts for Heroes Gala will be held at the Missisauga Convention Centre. Tickets for the Gala are $170 per person, drinks included. Tables that seat ten can be purchased for $1700. Cocktail hours begins at 5:30 followed by dinner.
To purchase tickets visit the Renos for Heros website.
