Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Final Prince George LIVE! fundraising total reaches nearly $78K for community foundation

Money earmarked for city's areas of greatest need

Prince George has gone above and beyond once more in providing financial aid to those who need it most.

The inaugural 'Prince George LIVE!' virtual television special, which took place Sunday night (Feb. 28), has now reached almost $78,000 in funds raised, an increase of more than 50 per cent of its original goal of $50,000.

The final total was counted to $77,932.

The money is earmarked for a fund that will be distributed to areas of greatest need impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Foundation hopes that this evening truly inspired viewers and showed how proud we should all be of the community over the past 11 months," said PGCF President Alain LeFebvre in a statement this afternoon (March 3).

"On behalf of the Board, I want to express my deepest thanks to all of the sponsors, entertainers, venues, artists, donors, bidders, and the team for putting on an incredible show."

On Monday (March 1), organizers announced an initial total of $55,000 with more incoming from the silent auction that ended in the evening.

On top of donations pouring in online and over the phones during the broadcast, local philanthropists Jim and Noreen Rustad provided a $25,000 matching donation.

There was also a $15,000 anonymous donation made during the live-streamed special.

“Prince George LIVE! was designed to bring our community together; and I think we were successful in that!” says Kyle Sampson, who hosted, managed and produced the show, which is also part of the PGCF's 25th-anniversary celebration year.

“We worked to bring in some of the best talent in Prince George! Of course, getting all of the talented folks in our community was going to be impossible in a 90-minute time slot, we did try to pull together a wide variety of entertainment so that we could be of interest of a wider segment range of viewers. From dancers, musicians, a comedian, mixologist, to even a live artist, it was our goal to showcase how well rounded our communities performing arts can be; as well as to give these folks a chance to show off their talents for the first time in almost a year.”

Acts included artist Emily Holmes, Rick Stavely, Mike McGuire, Studio 720, mixology at Earl’s Kitchen and Bar, and a performance from Judy Russell Enchainement Dance Centre.

- with files from Hanna Petersen, PrinceGeorgeMatters