Fred Lee’s annual celebration of everybody who gave of their time, expertise and treasure to make our communities stronger
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Earlier than we usher in a brand new decade, a glance again on the 12 months’s prime events, memorable moments, and the folks behind the largest and most lavish fundraisers within the Decrease Mainland. Yearly, British Columbians display their capability to care and to supply for these much less lucky. 2019 was an distinctive 12 months with lots of the cities venerable occasions posting document numbers. Right here’s to everybody who gave of their time, expertise and treasure to make communities stronger. Cheers to you and to a kinder, gentler 2020. Blissful New Yr!
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Vancouver Chinatown Basis Gala
Carol Lee’s fourth staging of her Chinatown Gala drew large names and even larger spenders, pulling in $5.5 million for her ongoing efforts to revitalize the as soon as bustling neighbourhood. Produced by Soha Lavin, the beautiful room was remodeled into pure gold, encouraging attendees to present generously. They usually did, with 4 lead presents of $1 million. The starry night time — B.C.’s largest fundraiser of the 12 months — additionally paid tribute to Lee’s ailing father — famend group builder and philanthropist Bob Lee.
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Surrey Hospital Celebration of Care Gala
Led by Surrey’s very personal Dr. James Bond, chief of thoracic surgical procedure at Surrey Hospital, the inspiration’s Bond-themed profit To Surrey With Love actually lived as much as its identify as residents confirmed appreciation for his or her group hospital. Main the way in which was change agent Jeff Wubs, founding father of Westland Insurance coverage. The 4 Seasons Resort catered-dinner and public sale at Surrey’s Aria Conference Centre would pull in a number one $5 million to equipment out ten working rooms with state-of-the-art, innovative tools.
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VGH & UBC Hospital Basis Time to Shine Gala
All the time a staple on the perfect dressed social gathering listing, VGH & UBC’s annual Time to Shine Chinese language New Yr Gala was one other sparkler. Judy Leung as soon as once more steered the dazzling occasion staged on the Fairmont Pacific Rim Resort. From the fantastic eating, glamourous decor and unique public sale gadgets for basis benefactors, this 12 months’s celebrations went above and past expectations. Three million greenback presents from Lily Lee, Westbank’s Ian Gillespie and Donald’s Nice Meals Donald Leung confirmed the way in which. The Yr of the Pig celebration would herald $5.36 million for the agency’s Way forward for Surgical procedure marketing campaign.
B.C. Kids’s Hospital For Kids We Care Gala
The Chinese language Canadian group got here collectively for the twenty fourth consecutive 12 months to help baby well being in B.C. And what a lavish social gathering it was. No small feat to show the Vancouver Conference Centre into an intimate social gathering palace, however gala chairs Carmen Chan, Pao Yao Koo and Isabel Hsieh had been positively up for the problem. The Night in Versailles-themed affair had all the weather of a profitable night time; beautiful decor, scrumptious meals, a scene-y crowd, a stay orchestra, large crystal chandeliers that hung from the rafters, spectacular multimedia screens, towering recent flowers and a really beneficiant crowd. The outcome: a document $4.12 million night time.
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B.C. Kids’s Hospital Basis Crystal Ball
Created by Isabelle Diamond in 1986, this venerable occasion has raised greater than $38 million for B.C. Kids’s Hospital. It might add one other $3.8 million to its already spectacular tally. Led as soon as once more by Jennifer Johnston, this 12 months’s thirty third staging was bittersweet as it will be the final Crystal Ball to be held on the 4 Seasons Resort because the property shutters its doorways on the finish of the 12 months. The spectacular room and equally spectacular tales from affected person households ignited a torrent of donations. Mike and Lisa Hudson, Rick and Lauren Ilich and Lisa Greczmiel had everybody on their toes early with presents of $500,000 every to get the fundraising social gathering began.
Arts Umbrella Splash Gala
Third-time was the attraction for chairs Bruce Munro Wright and Christie Garofalo as their Splash Artwork Public sale and Gala surpassed the million greenback mark for the primary time within the occasion’s 37 12 months historical past. 100 artists put ahead their finest work on the market. Greater than 80 per cent of the 33 items that went on the stay public sale block offered at-or-above worth signalling a record-night forward. A $2 million donation from Robert Lemon in reminiscence of his associate inside designer Bob Ledingham to go towards the development of a brand new Arts Umbrella constructing and Faculty of theatre and music additional fuelled social gathering spirits.
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Peace Arch Hospital Basis House Odyssey Gala
An interstellar-themed affair greeted Peace Arch Hospital patrons. Essentially the most artistic social gathering of 2019 noticed social gathering company transported to a different galaxy for an out-of-this-world expertise. Attendees in return delivered $900,000 to equip hospital working rooms with main know-how and tools. Chair Joelle Paleologou understood first-hand the significance of getting a room when wanted. Crediting Peace Arch with saving her life, she would lead the over-the-top Spacey soiree full with a Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, and different celestial creatures roaming a dressed up Centennial Area.
B.C. Kids’s Hospital Basis A Evening of Miracles Gala
Greater than 440 company packed the Marriot Pinnacle Resort ballroom for the South Asian Neighborhood’s largest night time. One of the vibrant and vibrant events on the town, the eleventh annual affair as soon as once more noticed social gathering chair Majot Hallen welcome attendees — philanthropist, group leaders and captains of business — who got here collectively to assist rework care for kids residing with incurable Kind 1 diabetes. The Backyard-themed social gathering on the Taj Mahal would add one other $742,500 to the $5.4 million beforehand raised from B.C.’s South Asian group.
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B.C. Most cancers Hope Couture Luncheon
B.C.’s most profitable luncheon fundraiser, this 12 months’s Hope Couture occasion would add one other $700,000 to B.C. Most cancers coffers, earmarked for a pancreatic most cancers speedy entry clinic. Steered as soon as once more by Lisa Dalton and Susan Chow, the all the time stylish-event noticed a predominantly feminine crowd pack the Fairmont Pacific Rim Sapphire Ballroom for the noon-hour energy lunch and Boboli and Bacci style present. The fashionable set was moved to tears when studying of a $150,000 lead reward from most cancers champion Carol Lai. Meaning to attend this 12 months’s occasion, Lai sadly handed away weeks earlier than from pancreatic most cancers.
Kids’s Want Basis Evening of Wonders Gala
It was a document turnout for the Kids’s Want Basis’s Evening of Wonders Gala. Greater than 400 company — influencers, enterprise and group leaders — taxied into Richmond’s London Aviation Hanger at Vancouver Worldwide Airport for the B.C. Yukon chapter’s flagship soiree. Piloted as soon as once more by younger professionals Tiffany Soper and Kevin Mazzone, the dynamic duo together with social gathering planner Soha Lavin remodeled the 84,000 sq. foot hanger right into a magical social gathering palace the place attendees dined, danced and tipped out $550,000 to grant needs to youngsters residing with a life-threatening sickness.
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B.C. Girls’s Hospital Basis Dazzling Love Gala
Zahra Salisbury, Anna Bosa, and Monica Soprovich hosted the largest home social gathering of the 12 months in help of B.C. Girls’s Hospital. They satisfied Shirin and Oliver Bock to open their just-completed waterfront mansion for the hospital hootenanny. The occasion would happen on the identical night time of the NBA finals. The profit rapidly turned a viewing social gathering. The formal program took a pause for social gathering company to look at the Toronto Raptors win the basketball championships. The historic victory bolstered social gathering spirits with the champagne flowing as freely because the money. The 100 well-heeled company would ship $425,000 for a new child screening program.
Kidney Gala
An emotional night of storytelling would see the Kidney Gala elevate greater than $300,000 for the Kidney Basis of Canada, a brand new fundraising customary for the fledgling occasion. Native hockey coach Stephen Gillis and Toby and Bernadine Boulet, dad and mom of Humboldt Broncos participant Logan Boulet had been the visitor audio system. Gillis’ pee wee group rallied to help their coach’s seek for a kidney donor producing a group video that went viral. The Boulet’s shared of their son’s need to be an organ donor simply weeks earlier than his demise. Logan’s resolution in the end saved the lives of six others ready for a life-saving organ transplant and ignited a rustic to enroll to turn out to be organ donors.
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