Local karaoke enthusiasts gathered at Ned Devine’s Irish Pub on March 26 to raise their voices – and $1,376 for the Milton Community Resource Centre’s (MCRC) She Can! programs.
Part of an ongoing fundraising event series hosted by Milton-based marketing agency Active Results Collaborative (ARC), ARC: Sing For A Cause welcomes attendees to open their wallets to belt out their favourite karaoke tunes, with suggested donations of at least $5 per song. Since launching the Sing For A Cause event in 2022, Cheryl Rak and Robin Read, co-founders of ARC, have raised more than $9,500 for various local non-profit organizations.
“We believe that communities save communities and love how Milton and Halton Region always show up for us and our causes,” shares Cheryl.
Guests enjoyed entertainment from a variety of talented performers dubbed “The ARC Singers,” including Cheryl Rak, Laura Raub, Rob Hewlett, and Chris Hazzard. Attendees who preferred to stay out of the spotlight could opt to make a donation to request a performance. A highlight of the evening was Cheryl’s stirring performance of the classic Leonard Cohen hit Hallelujah, the result of a $100 donation – a popular request that has garnered as much as $250 in the past.
Along with raising funds, the event also provided a platform to raise awareness of MCRC’s She Can! Programs that aim to enhance and improve the well-being of girls and gender-diverse youth. The free enrichment programs help youth navigate challenges, understand healthy boundaries and healthy relationships, develop a deepened sense of self-confidence and self-worth, and develop the leadership and communication skills needed for lifelong success.
“Over the years, MCRC has become acutely aware of the negative impacts of gender inequality and developed the She Can! Girls Empowerment Programs in response in 2020,” explains Jessica Rankin, Director, Early Years Child & Family Services at MCRC. “These programs are free, accessible, and designed to meet the unique needs of girls and gender-diverse youth in our community.”
Since 2020, She Can! has offered over 250 programs, reaching over 2,800 girls and gender-diverse youth. The programs are offered in schools around the Halton Region during lunch breaks as well as after school at MCRC’s main location and other partner locations around Halton. As a free offering, fundraising plays an important role in helping ensure MCRC can reach as many youths as possible.
“Having free programs where girls can learn to be comfortable in their own skin and to build the skills needed for lifelong success is essential to girls today, but keeping these programs free is challenging, so events like Sing For A Cause are hugely helpful for us to continue on our mission,” explains Jessica. “It costs us approximately $100 to provide one girl with access to a 10-week She Can! Program, so a little bit goes a long way.”
This isn’t the first time MCRC has benefitted from a Sing For A Cause fundraiser. It was also selected for ARC’s March 2024 event, which raised approximately $1,200. The ARC team often chooses to work with local charities that are dear to their hearts and also accepts requests from non-profits hoping to be added to the roster when possible.
Sing For A Cause on March 26 was made possible with the support of the following Community Partners:
- Camo Chick Designs
- CIE Property Management
- Creating Space for Change
- Experience Milton
- FM 101 Milton
- Julie Laf Optimal Energy
- Matador Eyeworks
- Ned Devine’s Irish Pub
- Primerica – Team H.E.A.R.T
- Singers Spotlight Karaoke
- The Gallery Upstairs
If you missed the March Sing For A Cause event, you can join in the fun at these upcoming 2025 events:
- April 29: Habitat for Humanity fundraiser at The Sly Fox, Burlington
- June 4: The Darling Home for Kids fundraiser at Ned Devine’s, Milton
- August 20: Distress Centre of Halton fundraiser at Ned Devine’s, Milton
- October 1: United Way of Halton and Hamilton fundraiser in Burlington (venue TBD).
To learn more about Sing For A Cause, visit activeresults.ca/sing-for-a-cause/.
For information on MCRC’s She Can! program, visit mcrc.on.ca/shecan/.
To find out about more upcoming events in Milton, visit our event calendar.
