Couchiching Jubilee House was voted as the winner of Creative Nomad Studios’ Nominate to Elevate contest earlier this month.
The contest awarded Couchiching Jubilee House with a complete Creative Nomad Studios venue rental package valued at around $1,800. The owner of Creative Nomad Studios, Anitta Hamming, says it’s her goal to be more intentional about how her business helps the community.
“This is where we can meet what we want to do and also allow a not-for-profit or charity to have a basis to put together a really great fundraising event,” she explained. “It allows them to start without a big overhead cost.”
Creative Nomad Studios left it up to the community to nominate their charity of choice for the contest. More than 2,400 nominations were submitted.
“The most nominations won,” Hamming explained. “The number of votes that came in was overwhelming.”
Four charities were close to winning the contest when it came down to the final days of voting. The leader board changed sometimes on a daily basis, she explained.
“It was so close that we just said OK, this just feels wrong,” Hamming said. “We put together a smaller package that we could give away to second, third, and fourth place.”
Creative Nomad Studios ended up giving a prize away to all charities that were nominated. Eleven charities were given a $75 gift certificate. The second, third, and fourth-place runners-up were given a party package good for cocktail parties or smaller fundraising events.
Hamming hopes the contest will inspire like-minded organizations to do similar contests to reward those in the community who are striving to make a difference for those in need.
“I think that if you are in your community you should look for ways to raise up your community,” she said. “If you lift up your community, everybody wins.”
Couchiching Jubilee House fundraising co-ordinator, Paige Jakobczak, says topping the contest is a “massive win” for the organization that offers long-term transitional housing for women and children.
“We haven’t really had in-person events since the pandemic,” Jakobczak said. “Having an event space in town that is very popular and beautiful paid for is a huge boost.”
Jakobczak says Couchiching Jubilee House is grateful and excited to be the winner of the contest.
“We are looking at an event in October,” she said. “We are hoping to have the community show up to support our transitional housing program, enjoy really great food, and hear from some really inspiring speakers.”
Jakobczak thanked Creative Nomad Studios for being “community-minded” and hosting the contest.
“They want to support all of the organizations in town,” she said. “It says that they care and are looking to give back.”
Hamming says Creative Nomad Studios will one day host the Nominate to Elevate contest again.
“We love to give back in meaningful ways,” she said. “That’s what we really hope this is.”
