Sometimes words aren’t enough, but I wanted to pass along a heartfelt thank you.

In November of 2011, I came up with an idea to help others. I didn’t have much of a detailed plan at the time. I’ve learned a lot along the way, but back then I was simply hoping through my platform, and some unique ideas, we could help the less fortunate at Christmas and I came up with The Month of Giving. My goal was to raise $25,000 in the month of December through various on-air auctions. I started it on December 1st and every weekday up until Christmas I’d have a different item(s) to auction off.

The first day we raised a ridiculous $12,000. As two bidders generously overbid on a package and I found a way to get two of them. We raised over $50,000 the first year and I realized listeners of my show on TSN 1260 and readers here at Oilersnation.com are very generous and wanted to help out. Each year I try to come up with a few different packages, but I also try to maintain the regular packages which garner large bids.

Nine years later Month of Giving has grown much bigger than I ever could have imagined. This year, in only 16 days, we raised an amazing $115,695.00. In some challenging economice times times we managed to set a record for most money raised in one year of Month of Giving. Remarkable.

Words can’t express how wonderful and generous that is.

We helped thousands of families, children, teens, parents and seniors this Christmas. We raised money for simple necessities like food for the Christmas Bureau, the Brightfield Elementary breakfast program and other worthwhile charities. We should never take for granted how lucky some of us are, and I believe we need to look out for others. I’m so grateful the listeners of TSN 1260 and the readers of Oilersnation feel the same way.

I want to thank all the sponsors who donated auction items:

Full Acre Consulting
The Brick
A-1 Heating St. Albert
Realtor Michelle Derk
Dave Lumley and Servpro Restorations
The Ranch Golf and Country Club
Mr. Derks
Kerry McGowan and Trilogy Oilfield Rentals
On the Rocks
Mondo Mechanical
The Glendale Golf and Country Club
The Urban Tavern
Jeff Woods, Paul Plakas and Lalitha Taylor
Grand Villas Casino and Atlas Steak + Fish
Vivo Ristorante, Jason Strudwick, Rob Brown and Kyle Brodziak.
Blue Sky Limos
Dave Tippett
Brad German and Chop Steakhouse in Ellerslie.
Tom Anselmi
Blackhawk Golf Club

I also had a few people who donated their Oilers tickets anonymously. Thank you.

I would also like to thank those who bid so generously on all the packages. If you didn’t win but still bid, thank you for increasing the prices. It allowed us to raise more money.

Thank you Jason, Sebastien, Ryan, Jack, Greg, Mike, Kevin, Justin, Curtis, Larry, Travis, Delly, Dan, Scott, Riley, Andrew, Rhett, Josh, Luck, Dan, Trent, Cory, Jerry, Darrell, Mike, Nolan, Wasif, and Curtis for their top bids.

Also, thank you to all who participated in our Pyramid of Giving. These fine people generously donated money. We had eight people donate $100, six donate $200, four donate $500 and two donate $1000. We ended up raising a total of $7,745 for the Holiday Hamper.

On our second Pyramid of Giving, Shane from Aurora Land Consulting bought the entire pyramid for $6,600, after we had already filled up $3,100 of it. So we raised $9,700 that day for Adopt-A-Teen.

Thank you all who donated. You make Northern Alberta a great place. And thanks to those who listened throughout the month, knowing that sometimes we would talk a little less sports so I could plug the daily auction.

Your donations and bids helped many who really needed it. We helped out The Christmas Bureau, The Holiday Hamper, Brightfield elementary breakfast program, The Alzheimers Foundation, Adopt-A-Teen, The MS Society, Operation Friendship Senior Society and Santas Anonymous.

Thank you Edmonton and surrounding areas. We live in a wonderfully generous community and I’m proud to call this area my home. Please know you made Christmas, and many other weeks and months, much more enjoyable for many people in need.

In nine years I can proudly say we have raised $793,544.00 through our Month of Giving program. Typing that number makes me swell up with pride. I hope you feel the same.

My heart was overflowing with love when it was ended this year. It takes a lot of work to organize the packages, arrange to get the money and then passing it along to the charities, but it is so worth it. Everyone is willing to help, and I’m amazed by how many companies and individuals send me notes expressing their interest to be a part of it.

Thank you again, and as you prepare to watch some important games against the Canadiens and Flames, I hope you do so feeling proud of your community. I sincerely hope you had a great Christmas and all the best in 2020.

God bless.