The inaugural Noelle's Gift black tie, masquerade gala Saturday night was a huge success.
The event at the Dante Club raised $250,000 for the charity.
Organizer Joe Paquette says two anonymous individuals donated $100,000 each, equalling the amount traditionally collected in one year.
"We were right at $1-million when the night started at that pushed us to $1.25-million," says Paquette. "We're not going to stop giving back to the community, that's what I love about this charity 100% goes back to our community, we don't have overhead, there's no fee or payroll everything we get goes back to the community."
Paquette says after this year's success, the gala will continue next year.
Noelle's Gift helps local youngsters in need.
It was established in memory of Noelle Paquette, a former kindergarten teacher with St. Clair Catholic District School Board, who was killed in January of 2013.
Noelle's Gift has three other events planned this year including the annual "Light Up the Night for Noelle" in the fall.
