After losing a major sponsor, the Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue's annual gala is looking for help to keep trotting along.
The non-profit organization had been working with Bounce Radio since March 7 on a sponsorship in the form of on-air announcements, an online presence and other ways of raising awareness. That has since fallen through after Vista Radio bought the Salmon Arm station among others earlier this year, with the change to Summit Radio taking effect on April 14.
"Everything was lost. No more sponsorship," Freedom's Gate president Carly Marchand said in an email to the Observer, adding she had tried to contact both Bounce and Summit with no luck.
Marchand said they now have until May 1 to sell enough tickets to enable the gala to go ahead, and are currently a third of the way to their goal of 150.
Other than attendance, everything else is in place for the event, which will take place Saturday, May 31 at Shuswap Lake Estates in Blind Bay if ticket sales meet the mark. Marchand said the semi-formal gala will include a silent auction that already has some "amazing donations from local companies," a toonie toss, door prizes, music and dancing, and dinner catered by S'witchcraft. They will also have the Shuswap Cider Company, Ricochet Brewing, Celista Winery and 6 Beans Roasting in attendance.
The event is not only a fundraiser for Freedom's Gate, but also a celebration of 10 years of rescuing after starting in 2015. It registered as a non-profit in 2017 and later that same year got charitable status. While based out of Salmon Arm, Freedom's Gate now provides service all over B.C. and other provinces as needed.
"Freedom's Gate assists with emergency evacuations in our area every year we have a fire in the Okanagan," Marchand said. "We rescue, rehabilitate and re-home 70-100 horses per year on average."
Tickets can be bought online at zeffy.com/ticketing/2025-fundraising-gala-838, with the link also available on Freedom's Gate's Facebook page.
