{"id":902,"date":"2014-06-25T18:11:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-25T18:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rf.podcastfixit.com\/index.php\/2014\/06\/25\/with-support-from-west-island-community\/"},"modified":"2015-06-01T19:41:03","modified_gmt":"2015-06-01T19:41:03","slug":"with-support-from-west-island-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newscoverage.org\/index.php\/2014\/06\/25\/with-support-from-west-island-community\/","title":{"rendered":"With the support from West Island Community Shares, Blanchard says West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped gave her hope when she felt she had none"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rhonda Massad<\/b>
www.thesuburban.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Exclusive handbags were the theme of the latest West Island Community Shares (WICS) fundraiser. More than 100 women gathered at Marlowe\u2019s restaurant in Pointe Claire, to battle each other in the silent auction. <\/p>\n

There was something for all budgets. <\/p>\n

Handbags for as little as $10 were available on a first come first served basis to be purchased out of the auction environment. The auction itself offered up some designer bags as well as some no name purses, prices started at $20. One authentic Louis Vuitton went as high as $290.<\/p>\n

Local firefighters were on hand to sell raffle tickets for several prizes such as spa treatments at Lyn Giroux, a limousine ride and dinner for two at Avocado Sushi in Pointe Claire. <\/p>\n

Carloline Tison, executive director of WICS explained how the charity fundraisers like this one impact the lives of more than 40,000 people on the West Island through local community groups. The average community group receives close to $35,000 in support from WICS. <\/p>\n

Suzanne Blanchard, a local mother of two gave a touching speech on how she has been helped by the West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped (WIAIH) which receives funding from WICS.<\/p>\n

Blanchard\u2019s children were impacted by a developmental delay when they were close to two years old. She spoke of her son Noah who suddenly stopped speaking, playing and interacting with others suddenly without warning. Her family was devastated and feeling without hope when a friend recommended she attend a support group meeting at WIAIH. <\/p>\n

She did and it changed her family\u2019s life. Noah began the Pat Robertson Developmental Center preschool program, a division of WIAIH, that specializes in children with special needs. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe women at the WIAIH received me at the very first group meeting like I was their sister,\u201d Blanchard explained, \u201cwhen I was destroyed and hopeless, they gave me hope. They were there for my family, they gave me a shoulder to cry on, they gave us tools and advice but most importantly hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

June 18, the day after the event, marked Noah\u2019s graduation from preschool. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he started to speak they were there, when he was potty trained, they were there, when he started to play with children again, they were there. Hope grew from that first day,\u201d she told a silent crowd, \u201che is an amazing boy. I just want to thank you.\u201d
 
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\nFrom left: (back row) Event co-organizer Tara Upton, WICS Executive Director Caroline Tison, attorney and community activist Brigitte Garceau, event planner Dahlila Ricci, The Suburban\u2019s<\/i> Rhonda Massad and three of the West Island\u2019s great firefighters.<\/b><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Rhonda Massadwww.thesuburban.com Exclusive handbags were the theme of the latest West Island Community Shares (WICS) fundraiser. More than 100 women gathered at Marlowe\u2019s restaurant in Pointe Claire, to battle each other in the silent auction. There was something for all budgets. 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