Coming Together for All: An Appeal in Support of the Community Asset at 58 Murray Street

We need your financial support to maintain the building at 58 Murray Street, the home of the Fenelon Falls Senior Citizens’ Club. Let me tell you why and how we have made our request both affordable and worth your consideration.

As you may be aware in the last 22 months, the Fenelon Falls Senior Citizens’ Club has been challenged to the brink with their responsibility of the building at 58 Murray Street. During that period, they faced the cancellation of many of their revenue generating special and weekly events, hall rentals and all social activities in the building. For half a century, the Club has provided its membership and patrons a safe, friendly environment for all, willing to participate in a variety of low impact activities and social events. The members organize cards, shuffleboard and line dancing every week, among other activities and look forward to bringing Bingo back. Many special events such as dances, weddings, dinners, fashion shows, craft sales and much more have been held there to much success. The pandemic has brought these much-loved member activities and hall rentals to a complete stand still.

The venue is an attractive, accessible building that replaced the original building which was lost to fire in 2007. The building has the capacity of 150 during a licensed event and 185 during unlicensed events. The facilities are not limited to a senior audience, but appealing to all Fenelon residents and visitors, no matter what age or interest. The amenities include a fully equipped kitchen, ideal for catered special events, workshops, trade/consumer shows, indoor markets and exercise/indoor sport events. Efforts will be to attract new users and reintroduce the fully equipped facility to those who have a need to accommodate special events and occasions. We need your help to do so.

This building belongs to Fenelon Falls, as a tremendous community asset. We believe there is a direct connection to you and potentially your business, whether your family, friends and employees have participated, planned or attended special events and occasions at the venue or you have past and current club members in your immediate circle.

We are calling on you, local businesses, service clubs and other concerned individuals for  financial support and to become Community Partners.  

You and your business will be contributing to a worthwhile community and social asset that impacts  many people now, and for many more people for years to come. It is worthy of pride and support. 

A Fundraising Program is being implemented, commencing with a series of Coming Together for All  50/50 Draws on January 11, March 12 and May 10, 2022. Other fundraising events include a Spring  Raffle and a Coming Together for All event. Stay tuned for more on these soon. 

The club and the building receive no municipal funding. Business contributions, in-kind support  and individual donations will be essential for ongoing financial stability of this functional building. Every  donation will be used to support the club’s financial responsibilities, including the burden of a  substantial mortgage. Your support will help with the monthly bills. When allowed the club  programming for the young at heart will be reinstated, reinvigorating the venue, the hall rental  promotion and its management.  

This is no ordinary building; it’s part of what makes Fenelon Falls a great place to live and play. The  club’s dedicated Board of Directors and many of its members worked tirelessly and continue to do so,  to keep this building open and vibrant for all. Now in this crucial time of need, this appeal is sent to  you for your consideration and support. Your help is essential to its long-term viability and success. 

Attached is a one-page summary of what we need from you and the entitlements we can offer  you. 

Please review and consider this request. Your help at this time would be much appreciated. 

FENELON FALLS SENIOR CITIZENS’ CLUB 

Community Partners’ Fundraising Program 

What We Need From You 

We must raise awareness of this community asset in Fenelon Falls, and we must raise at least $40,000 per year from hall rentals and in local contributions from businesses, services clubs, and individuals to ensure that this  attractive venue and home to the FFSC is appropriately maintained for everyone to enjoy for years to come. 

1. Promote yourself through our promotional activities where it makes sense for you.  In other words, embrace opportunities to connect with us. Tell our audience and yours too that you support the  building at 58 Murray Street in Fenelon Falls. We will reciprocate where possible.  

2. Make an annual financial contribution for 3 years to our Fundraising Program. We will acknowledge your support where possible. We are looking for a three-year commitment, an annual  contribution for three consecutive years of $2,000, $1,000 or $500 per year. It is our belief that by breaking  your contribution into annual donations, it will be more manageable. It will also give you more opportunities to  realize a return on your donation and investment, because we believe a truly good relationship is achieved over  time.  

You should know, we are not asking anyone and everyone to partner with us. Our approach with the Coming  Together for All Appeal is based on local relationships, whether the source of contribution is corporate or  individual. We believe that time and influence of our Community Partners is important, and our request is not  simply about writing a cheque. We want you to see value in what we are doing to promote and maintain this  attractive community asset, which has been hit by hard times. We want you to experience some return on your  investment in a public and engaged community asset. We are being selective because we want the sponsorship  and partnership to make sense. If several businesses like yours can make this commitment, we will make great  progress in maintaining the building for safe healthy use, and memorable enjoyment by residents and visitors for  the next few years. It sounds simple, but our plan will only work if you help us. 

Community Partner Entitlements 

- name added to Community Partner plaque with sponsor/donor recognition 

- placement of name, business logo and description on the new website - fenelonseniors.com - link to your website and social media channels on fenelonseniors.com 

- placement of name or logo in the building 

- opportunities to set up presence at FFSC events as appropriate 

- other promotional opportunities as they become available