Fascinating fascinators to raise funds for Fairmount

Aug 23, 2012

Photo: Residents, volunteers and staff at Fairmount Home making fascinators for their upcoming fundraising event on September 12Residents at the Fairmount Home have been busy these last few weeks creating a wide array of products that will be for sale at an upcoming Kick Off fundraising event. Called a Fascinating Kick Off, the event will start the “Building Change Together" fundraising campaign for the Fairmount auditorium. The campaign aims to raise funds to update the auditorium, which is drastically in need of repairs and has become increasingly underused.

On August 16, volunteer Jeanne Ronan led a group of residents in creating a wide array of fascinators -those stylish pieces of decorative head gear that were brought back into vogue last year with Kate and Will’s royal nuptials across the pond.

With their laughter filling the activity room at the home, the group of Fairmount residents enthusiastically dove into constructing a wide array of fascinators from colorful items, including decorative grasses, butterflies and feathers. They made both the clip-on and head band variety, and their one-of-a-kind creations will be for sale at the Fascinating Kick Off. Many of the residents loved their fascinators so much that they often wear them to regular social events in and around the home.

Also for sale at the event, which takes place on Wednesday September 12 from 4-6pm, will be paintings and jewelry made by the many talented artisans at the home.

The goal of the campaign is to raise $200,000 by 2014. The drive to repair the auditorium came about as it became known that many residents have had to stop participating in activities at the auditorium because of the room's problems. For example, Violet Cooke of Parham, who loves to paint and whose works decorate many of the wall spaces, had to forgo participating in regular art classes in the auditorium. In Violet's case it was due to the poor air quality there. “In the summer the air circulation is unbearable; that and lack of windows makes me feel claustrophobic when I am there,” Violet explained when I spoke to her at the home. Others problems with the auditorium include poor acoustics due to an outdated hearing assistance system; excess heat and humidity in the summer months; a leaking roof; and a kitchen area, washroom facilities, and an entrance way that are inaccessible by wheelchair.

In 2009, as a result of the problems cited, an auditorium redevelopment study was undertaken, which pinpointed the improvements needed to modernize the auditorium to make it a community gathering space and an income stream for the home. These improvements include adding an addition at the north end of the building to make it more accessible; expanding the vending and games area; installing a new HVAC system to improve the air quality; installing new hearing and vision aids; and developing a conference /meeting room suite. Alison Vandervelde, who is the communications officer at Fairmount, anticipates a good turnout for the Kick Off, which will be the second of numerous upcoming events to raise funds for the Fairmount Auditorium Campaign. “We’re really excited about this event and the residents have been working very hard creating some really nice items for it.”Along with the sale, the event will include a tour of Fairmount's famed gardens, a tour of the auditorium and a power point presentation about the planned renovations. Anyone unable to attend can make a donation by mail to Fairmount Home Auditorium Fundraising Campaign, 2069 Battersea Road, Glenburnie, ON, K0H 1S0 or by calling Julie Shillington at 613-546-4264 ext.500.For a list of other upcoming fundraising events for the campaign visit www.frontenaccounty.ca->Fairmount Home. It will soon be possible to make online donations on the site.