Taylor Swift hype helps rake in dollars beyond charities’ wildest dreams
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has not only captivated audiences around the world, but it has also had a significant impact on Canadian charities. Several organizations have been able to auction or raffle off coveted tickets to the tour, donated by generous benefactors, and raise unprecedented amounts of money for a good cause.
One such charity, the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, received tickets to a private suite for the last night of Swift’s world tour in Vancouver. Angela Chapman, the foundation’s president and CEO, had hoped to raise over $100,000 from the tickets. To her amazement, the 15 tickets ended up bringing in a staggering $320,000, exceeding her target by a large margin.
In Toronto, the Daily Bread Food Bank auctioned off 22 street signs bearing the name “Taylor Swift Way” to support their cause of ending food insecurity in the city. This turned out to be the largest fundraising auction ever for the charity, raising nearly $217,000, with a significant contribution from Rogers. Neil Hetherington, the charity’s CEO, noted that this auction was both the largest in terms of monetary value and the most publicized due to Taylor Swift’s celebrity factor.
Charity fundraising auctioneer Layne, also known as The Auctionista, has sold several Canadian Taylor Swift tickets this fall, with prices ranging from $7,000 to $20,000. They emphasized the unique appeal of Taylor Swift, whose tickets tend to sell extremely well in auctions due to her multigenerational fan base.
Campfire Circle, a Toronto-based non-profit supporting children with cancer or serious illnesses, was donated 20 tickets to Swift’s sold-out shows in the city. They raised $100,000 from a raffle for two pairs of tickets and gifted the rest to children in the program and their parents or guardians.
Mother-daughter duo Vivian and Sophia Vaillant raffled off two tickets for the Lake Trail Community Education Society in Courtenay, B.C., raising $20,000 from ticket sales and additional donations. The fundraiser not only exceeded their expectations but also helped launch the charity into surplus territory for next year.
Overall, Taylor Swift’s impact on Canadian charities has been immense, with fans opening their wallets for a good cause and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From Vancouver to Toronto to Courtenay, Swift’s fans have come together to support these organizations and make a difference in their communities. The generosity inspired by Swift’s music and charitable work continues to shine bright, leaving a lasting impact on those in need.
