Agents’ Choice silent auction raises nearly $40K for Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter
On Thursday, June 20, Baxter Media hosted its Agents Choice Awards Gala, drawing close to 500 prominent members of Canada’s travel trade community.
Now in its 24th year, this year’s gala included a silent auction component, during which attendees were invited to bid on items, with proceeds going towards chosen charity, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter.
By the end of the night, a whopping $39,663 was raised for the organization, thanks in part to the support of 50 generous silent auction donors who supplied incredible prizes that ranged from roundtrip luxury trips for two, to guided tours, accommodations, airfare and more.
About Ernestine’s
Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, crisis intervention and shelter to women, two-spirit, trans, non-binary and gender diverse individuals and their children experiencing violence.
With 32 beds, the emergency shelter provides a home for individuals and their children – with the average stay being five months – until appropriate housing is found. They also support more than 600 adults and children from across the Greater Toronto Area through their outreach program, providing access to counselling services and the shelter’s on-site donation rooms and food bank.
Ernestine’s also provides a range of holistic services to shelter and outreach clients, including 24-hour crisis assistance, individual and group-based counselling support, skills exchange programs, plus legal, housing, and immigration support and advocacy. Since they opened their doors in 1983, they have supported more than 15,000 individuals and children.
“We are profoundly grateful to Baxter Media and to everyone who donated and contributed at the 2024 Agents’ Choice Gala, raising nearly $40,000 for Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter. This incredible generosity not only ensures that our essential, life-saving services can continue but also enhances our capacity to provide critical resources, including safe housing, trauma counseling, and empowerment programs for women and children escaping violence,” said Emily McClung, manager, development and engagement, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter. “Your support directly impacts lives by offering a pathway to safety, healing, and a brighter future. Thank you for being champions of hope and transformation.”
To learn more about Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter, including ways to get involved, visit www.ernestines.ca.
