Women of Excellence Sells Out

Submitted by Sharon Ward
  

CPC Halifax Cornwallis’ 16th annual 2005 Progress Women of Excellence Awards have turned out to be our most successful event in the history of the club! With 2 weeks to go before the event, we completely sold out! The ladies of Halifax Cornwallis didn’t even have a table of their own this year.

The WOE committee, led by Lorna MacMillan, made some drastic changes to our format and venue this year and, combined with a strong publicity campaign, was the major factor in the incredible success story. We moved the venue to the elegant Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, which offered more ambience than our previous location. We opened up the awards to 18 women in 6 categories this year, rather than one of three in each of six categories, sending home 18 deserving recipients, rather than 6 recipients and 12 finalists. We added a very successful silent auction, which added nearly $5,000 additional dollars to the bottom line.

A team from CPC Halifax, dressed in their natty tuxedos aided our raffle ticket sales, who “worked the room”. Christina Millar, from Millar Productions, volunteered to produce a multimedia show for the awards, including a new video highlighting Phoenix Youth Programs, the recipient of the proceeds from the event and our main charity. Our publicity campaign went over the top this year. Our TV coverage was broader; we had 2 large billboards in the city, a new sponsor printed up elegant posters and matching tickets and out radio and newspaper coverage filled in the rest. All of this publicity was donated. Last, but by no means least, the members of Halifax Cornwallis worked very hard and diligently to make this all happen.

A cheque for $40,000 was presented to Phoenix Youth Programs at the end of the evening.

Now that our major event is behind us, the club will turn its attention to our Live Televised Auction to be held in late Spring. Another event is in the planning stages as well. More on that as the plans come together.

In the meantime, we wish all our fellow members across the country a warm and wonderful Holiday Season, however you may celebrate it.