FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2012

Annual Night Before The Night Before Christmas Fundraiser Returns on December 22
Celebrate the season and support your local Youth Centre!

The 20th annual The Night Before The Night Before Christmas fundraising dance will take place Saturday, December 22, 2012 at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, 26 Beckwith Street in Perth, beginning at 7:30 p.m. This popular annual tradition features great local entertainment and is a must-attend holiday event for music lovers. This year, we are pleased to be donating all proceeds from the event to YAK Youth Services.

Hosted this year by well-known local Musicians and managed by local business OnCouRSS Web Solutions and the YAK Youth Centre staff, the theme of this year’s dance is “You Are Not Alone”.

“So many people generously support The Night Before the Night Before Christmas event, including many Perth-area artists and musicians,” Montreuil says. “Thanks to everyone’s contributions, the true spirit of Christmas really shines through—during the holidays and all year long.”

YAK Youth Services was chosen as this year’s charity recipient simply because it is so much more than just an after school drop in centre for teens. Lately YAK has seen a significant increase local youth who are affected by issues facing their families, their relationships, their performance at school, their housing arrangements, and their own well being. YAK is, more often than not, the first point of contact for youth in need. As a result, YAK has been providing emergency counseling, food supplies and support for youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The cost to provide youth programs and to maintain an emergency food cupboard has increased significantly. Funding for such important programs is by no means stable. Fundraising events such as this are an important component of the youth centre’s ongoing success.

Tanis Cowan, YAK’s new Executive Director, notes, “Our food program is an important attraction for the youth. Once they arrive at YAK, our amazing staff team is able to help meet their immediate need for food and then go on to help the youth access community resources, homework help, or simply provide a shoulder to lean on.”

Event-goers are being encouraged to commit to a regular monthly gift to YAK Youth Services. A pledge of $10 or more a month will give the donor free access to this year’s dance (a $20 value). Regular monthly giving allows YAK to budget to meet the needs local youth in a more reliable and consistent fashion.

Event host Shelley Montreuil from Tell Mama was named Festivals and Events Ontario Best Original Act for 2009, received an Honourable Mention in the Billboard Song Contest and was a runner-up in the International Songwriter's Competition’ jazz category. Jeremiah Sutherland wrote in the March 7, 2009 Bullfrog Music Reviews that Tell Mama’s debut album is, “Definitely Juno material with not a weak song on the CD. Buy this one while you can."

Joining Shelley onstage this year is local rock band The Commuters and a few young surprise guests from YAK. For updates on who is appearing, visit www.thenightbeforethenightbeforexmas.com.

Tickets, which are available at Shadowfax or Tickets Please in Perth, are $20 each plus a donation of food or cash to YAK’s Homeless Youth Support program. Without a donation to YAK, tickets are $25 each. Pledge $10 a month and get in for free plus a donation of food or $5 at the door. Pledge $15 a month and get in for free with no extra donation at the door. Pledges can be made online at thenightbeforethenightbeforexmas.com, in person at Shadowfax or in person at the door.

Sponsorships are also available, ranging from a one-star ($125) performer sponsorship to a five-star ($1200) event sponsorship. If you can’t attend the event but would like to help, tickets and other sponsorship opportunities can be arranged by contacting Shelley at shelley@oncourss.com or at 613-812-3187 or by calling YAK Youth Services directly at 613-264-8381.

For tickets and information contact:
Shelley Montreuil
613-812-3187
shelley@oncourss.com

Tanis Cowan
613-264-8381
yakyouthcentre@gmail.com