Tuna collection sees Bradford sisters raise $100,000 for charity

While the heat may have many thinking about anything but winter, two Bradford sisters are already hard at work preparing a special Christmas gift for a local charity.

Sarah and Emily Dahlgren, aged 20 and 19 respectively, are well known for their charity, A Bradford Christmas, and have just launched their tonie jar initiative, which is expected to take place in July and August at 200 businesses from the Simcoe-Muskoka region. They hope to raise $20,000 towards the 2024 charity campaign goal of raising $100,000 for Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka.

Named after comedian Gilda Radner, Gilda’s Club is a charity dedicated to providing support, education and hope to people affected by cancer, including family and friends of those diagnosed, children and bereaved people.

So far, 45 businesses have signed up to host a jar, including Bradford’s Santos Hair Studio, which owner Catarina Santos has run for the past 12 years.

Santos has also known the sisters for almost eight years and previously had positive experiences helping with the bonfire and other successful fundraising initiatives they have run since 2019.

“They are so passionate about what they do,” she said. “It’s so wonderful to help the community and just knowing their history and everything they’ve done, it was a no-brainer to try to help them in any way I can.”

Santos is also familiar with Gilda’s Club as she has helped fundraise for them in the past and her mother beat cancer in 2021 after surgery and radiation therapy.

During the campaign launch at Gilda’s Club in Barrie on May 3, Santos experienced a “full circle” moment when guests were asked to write the name of someone they knew who had been affected by cancer, and she said that “it felt really special.” to be able to write her mother’s name.

When it comes to working with Sarah and Emily, Santos said it’s always been a positive experience.

“They have great ideas and are always very respectful and fun to work with,” she said. “They are also inspiring. What they have achieved is extraordinary.”

This isn’t the pair’s first tony drive, and this one comes with a new addition.

Donors can scan the QR code on the front of the jars to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a gift basket filled with items donated by the host companies.

While the draw is planned for September, businesses have the option to continue hosting the jars until the end of the campaign on December 31st, and in the meantime, the sisters will be doing pickups twice a week so hosts are not burdened. with all donations kept.

So far, Sarah said it’s “really great” that there are more businesses hosting jars than ever before – including businesses in Bracebridge and Newmarket – and Emily called the response “incredible”, particularly in Muskoka and Barrie, where they no longer have raised funds so far, but found that “people have welcomed us with open arms”.

Emily attributes some of the generosity of local businesses to the Gilda Club’s reputation.

“At the end of the day, when we give the check to Gilda’s Club, we want more people to know about them and what they do, so they can have more support in the years to come,” said Sarah.

“Even though Gilda’s Club is very well known, we want to make sure people know exactly what kind of amazing work they do for the community,” Emily added, noting that during the launch of the campaign, some people were surprised to find that it offered options, including therapy and programs for children.

Sarah pointed out that they even have showers and a place for people to sleep when visiting from out of town.

However, the toonie jar initiative is just one part of this year’s A Bradford Christmas campaign, and the sisters are already planning their first in-person fundraiser at Bowlerama in Barrie on Friday, September 13, from 7pm to 9pm: 00.

More ticket information and sponsorship opportunities are expected to be available online soon.

The Canada Revenue Agency has officially approved A Bradford Christmas as a registered charity.

Emily says it feels “incredible” to have that official status and be able to issue tax receipts in the new year. And Sarah stressed that they are both “so grateful” to their lawyer, Taras Kulish, for his years of help.

For more information visit abradfordchristmas.com or for updates follow A Bradford Christmas on Facebook and Instagram.

More details about Gilda’s Club can be found at gildasclubsimcoemuskoka.org.