The Niverville Nighthawks are inviting you to their second annual gala fundraiser dinner on February 10. This year’s gala will feature a silent auction extravaganza, a live auction spectacle, a meet and greet with the players and coaching staff, and gourmet dining infused with community spirit.
The night will be highlighted by a range of special guests, including local comedian Matt Falk. There will also be a one-on-one with Ray Neufeld, a former Winnipeg Jets forward who serves on the NHL Diversity Inclusion Committee and is president of the Winnipeg Jets Alumni.
“We had a bit more time to plan and organize the gala this year, as we enlarged our planning committee by adding some great volunteers,” says Clarence Braun, chair of the team’s board of directors. “We were able to understand how to streamline the program and smooth it out. We added some great new fundraising opportunities to give more people the opportunity to participate. The opportunity to connect will be enhanced, too, as the venue and bar will be open until midnight.”
Braun is excited that they were able to get Neufeld to come out and speak at the gala.
“Ray is a Manitoba player who had a significant NHL career in which he spent four years with the Winnipeg Jets,” says Braun. “He grew up in a small town, and his experiences as a minority in a predominantly white Mennonite town have provided him with a great perspective on challenges presently being faced by the NHL.”
The other speaker on the night is Matt Falk, who has been well recognized for his comedic talent across Canada and North America more broadly.
“We wanted to inject a little more levity into our program, and he was willing to join us. We are expecting people to enjoy Matt’s leading from the emcee position to Ray sharing his story with us.”
Another feature of the evening involves Kevin Pauls, the team’s play-by-play voice and TV announcer. Pauls will make player introductions and conduct sit-down interviews with billet parents, as well as with Neufeld.
