http://www.orilliapacket.com/Article...aspx?e=2178908
Lightfoot raises nearly $80K
Posted By NATHAN TAYLOR, THE PACKET AND TIMES
Posted 2 hours ago
Gordon Lightfoot came home on the weekend with a mission to help the Orillia Opera
House and Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (SMH).
Mission accomplished.
His two fundraising concerts, held Saturday and Sunday at the Opera House, raised a little more than $39,000 for each of the institutions.
Until just a few months ago, the hospital was unaware of the benefit concerts.
"It was a great surprise and a welcome gift for the hospital," said SMH Foundation executive director Nicole McCahon.
The hospital has a $10-million list of equipment and technology items that it needs and the money to fund about a quarter of that. McCahon said the money from the concert would be a big help.
At the Opera House, too, the money "will go a long way," said general manager Krista Storey.
"There are many projects that the Opera House would love to dedicate this money to," she said, adding some of those projects are underway.
Storey thanked everyone in the community who bought tickets to the concerts.
ntaylor@orilliapacket.com