A local presentation of the Vagina Monologues Feb. 16 at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts in North Battleford has raised thousands of dollars for its beneficiaries.
The event, presented as a commitment to global efforts to stop violence against women and girls, raised almost $10,000 from ticket sales and a silent auction of donated items. Beneficiaries of the funds raised throughout the evening were Interval House and Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre.
Organizer Heather O'Neill said, "Our sponsors put up the money for the rental of the Dekker Center and with that made it possible for us to raise $9,567.80. We will be sending a $500 donation to One Billion Rising and the Interval House and BASAC will each receive $4,533.90."
This is the second time O'Neill has organized a Battlefords presentation of the Vagina Monologues as part of V-Day. In 2011, a performance was presented for V-Day at the Western Development Museum.
Volunteers around the world have been organizing V-Day events since 1998 and have raised over $90 million for local anti-violence organizations. One Billion Rising is part of the V-Day anti-violence program.
V-Day was founded by Eve Ensler, Tony Award winning playwright, performer and activist, who is also the author of The Vagina Monologues. It was first performed in 1996 as a one-woman play.
