A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: PALS Autism School is the only facility in B.C. dedicated to educating autistic kids. Its mission is to provide year-round scientifically validated educational programs designed to encourage individual growth and personal achievement. Led by Katy Harandi, parent of an autistic child, the 20-child independent school in East Vancouver is operating at capacity. Opened in 2007, the school is hoping to expand and find a permanent home to accommodate more students and the daily requests from parents. The charity was the beneficiary once again of Sutton Place Hotel’s Home for the Holidays reception. Proceeds from the property’s annual tree pageant will benefit programs and services offered at the school.
MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT: Yours truly along with a host of local personalities including Mayor Gregor Robertson, police chief Jim Chu and chef Vikram Vij from CBC’s Dragon’s Den were on hand for the 28th CBC Open House and Food Bank Day. Thousands filed through the CBC studios beginning at 5:30 a.m. to party down with their favourite radio and television hosts, tour the Hamilton Street broadcasting centre and try their hand at reading the news. The single largest food bank campaign in the province, the daylong affair generated an impressive $575,000 for more than 90 food banks across the province. Every month in B.C., more than 97,000 individuals, children and families turn to their local food bank for assistance.
TOY SOLDIERS: The annual Pan Pacific Vancouver Christmas Wish Breakfast saw a record amount of toys collected. More than 5,000 Vancouverites armed themselves with 20 tons of toys, 476 bikes and more than $20,000 in cash for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. The massive haul, filling five Williams Moving trucks, will be distributed to needy families during the upcoming holidays. From humble beginnings in 1987, the Pan Pacific hosted affair, sponsored by Global TV, Rock 101FM and Dominion Lending Centres, has become a Vancouver tradition and is the single largest toy drive in the province.
TURNING A CORNER: Dianne Forsythe-Abbott hosted her 20th Crabtree Corner Luncheon. More than 200 attendees filled Neil Aisenstat’s Hy’s Encore for the annual power lunch in support of abused mothers and their kids residing at the YWCA’s downtown eastside transition house. An impressive $75,000 was collected from the merry making that included an auction yours truly presided. Marking the occasion and Abbott’s continued effort, YWCA CEO Janet Austin dedicated a reading corner at the family resource centre in Abbott’s honour.
