The Victoria Gold Yukon Student Encouragement Society has raised $65,000 for its Every Student, Every Day (ESED) funding program.

The money was generated at the society’s annual charity gala held Sept. 23.

ESED supports projects designed to curb the high rates of school absenteeism and to increase Yukon student attendance and engagement.

“With the amount raised at this year’s annual gala, we are closer to our goal of funding $400,000 in projects for the 2024-25 school year to Yukon schools, school councils, other community groups working with students and First Nations governments,” society president Tara Christie said Friday.

“On behalf of the society, we thank the donors, community partners and volunteers who came together for this annual fundraiser.

“Your generous contributions will allow us to continue to connect with the communities to support their projects to increase student attendance.”

John McConnell, Victoria Gold’s president and CEO, said this year’s event “would not be possible without the generosity of the Yukon community supporting the Every Student, Every Day fund.

“We are pleased that Yukon Government has also increased their funding commitment from $70,000 to $100,000 for the 2024 school year.

“Thank you to Premier Pillai and honourable ministers who came out to support the fundraiser in-person,” McConnell added.

“These dollars will make a big difference to support attendance programs for Yukon’s children and youth.”

Held at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, the event welcomed 170 guests with the support of 60 sponsors and numerous volunteers.

Special highlights were the silent and live auctions, the return of “Live from the Red Carpet” hosted by Leneath Yanson and live music from Ten Souljers.

Adam Gerle and Carolina Roldan took home Best Dressed Awards for the “Tropical Formal” theme.

New this year, all event sponsors were entered into a draw to win an exclusive Mexican resort getaway, which was won by long-time ESED partner Ewing Transport.

Every Student, Every Day is committed to giving back to children and youth in Yukon communities through various programs and partnerships. Since 2012, it has:

• donated more than $1.85 million toward projects focused on helping address student attendance challenges;

• for the 2023-2024 school year, a total of $350,000 was awarded to 36 projects;

• during the 2024-2025 school year, a record amount of funding is expected to be available and will be announced in early January 2024;

• supported more than 200 projects designed to help assist Yukon schools and communities with initiatives to remove barriers and encourage increased engagement and a greater sense of belonging at school; and

• contributed toward helping increase graduation rates in the Yukon.

The society was established in 2012 to help address student attendance challenges in the Yukon and raise funds that individual schools and communities can apply for to develop and undertake strategies that support student success.

The society is supported through annual fundraising events and donations from individual and corporate donors from around the world.

The next fundraising events will be a golf tournament on July 5, 2024 and the annual Northern Lights Gala on Oct. 19, 2024.