It is with great sadness that the Richmond Hill Rotary Club announces the end of the Rotary TV Auction. Due to changes at our local broadcaster, it is no longer possible to reach our audiences in Southern York Region. Running on the first weekend of December for 37 years, the auction had become a York Region institution.
We would like to thank all of our many charitable partners, donors, volunteers and bidders for their support of this auction over the years. We have raised approximately $2 million for local charities and we could not have done it without their support. We also appreciate the support of Classicom, Shaw and Rogers, without whom the auction could not have been broadcast to the public.
Our club is considering an online auction to replace the TV auction, but this may not take place until 2018. We will let you know when we finalize our plans. In the meantime, we would welcome your support at our upcoming events: Rotary Charity Gala on Saturday, April 28, 2018, Rotary Craft Beer Tasting Festival on Saturday, August 11, 2018, and the Terry Fox Run at Mill Pond on Sunday, September 16, 2018. To get updates on any of these events, go to www.RichmondHillRotary.com, on twitter @RotaryRichmondH or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rotaryrichmondhill/
The Rotary TV Auction was broadcast throughout York Region reaching viewers in Markham, Vaughan, Aurora, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville, East Gwillimbury, West Gwillimbury, King Township and Richmond Hill.
The auction was always held on the first weekend in December to take advantage of those looking for holiday shopping deals. Many of our TV Auction viewers were regular followers who watched year after year. Some organized parties with family and friends. Some would search the TV dial on weekends prior to Christmas hoping to stumble on to the show. Many would impatiently contact us asking for the date for “this year’s event”. Without the support of our dedicated viewers, the auction could not have been a success.
Over the years, literally hundreds of local York Region businesses have donated Leaf and Raptor tickets, jewelry, sports memorabilia, toys, electronics, gift vouchers, gift baskets, clothing, spa packages and golf packages. Without the support of the local businesses that believed in the benefits to our community, the auction could not have been a success.
Some of the charities that have benefitted from the Rotary TV Auction include: Canadian Spinal Research Organization; Eva’s Initiatives, Sunshine Foundation, My House: Rainbow Resources of York Region, Caribbean North Charities Foundation, 360 Kids, High Notes, Ontario Lung Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation – York South Region; Helpmate, Community Information Services and Volunteer Bureau; The York Centre for Children, Youth and Family; York Region Multiple Sclerosis; Community Circles of Richmond Hill; Big Brothers Big Sisters of York; The Canadian Hearing Society; The Curtain Club; Unionville Home Society; Victim Services; Easter Seals; Hospice Richmond Hill
The auction started 37 years ago with the assistance of Classicom Cable based in Richmond Hill. In 1995, Shaw Cable took over from Classicom. From 2000 until 2016, Rogers Cable TV York championed the TV Auction throughout York Region.
If you are interested in finding out about joining Rotary, please contact David Obadia at david.obadia@cibc.ca
For more details on this announcement, please contact Peter Szoke at pszoke@truepulse.com
