SUPER POWERS UNITE: The mother and daughter team of Jacqui Cohen and Kasondra Cohen-Herrendorf — philanthropic powerhouses — announced their charitable foundations will join forces in 2017 to host a mega benefit for the city’s most vulnerable. With her daughter by her side, Cohen made the announcement at the 26th Face the World benefit, held at her Point Grey mansion. Cohen’s foundation has passionately served charitable organizations in Vancouver, distributing more than $17 million in funds, while her daughter’s Face of Today, founded seven years ago, has raised nearly $2 million for youth-related charities. Cohen will add another $700,000 from this year’s red carpet event, which featured a sumptuous Hy’s Vancouver dinner and special performance by Steven Page, the former Barenaked Ladies front man.
HAPPY CAMPERS: Eighty guests convened at Lorne and Melita Segal’s Southlands home for the seventh annual CampOUT fundraiser. Yours truly chaired and hosted the spring outing in support of the summer leadership program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited, questioning youth and their allies.
UBC researcher Lisa Loutzenheiser and past camp participant Alex Dauncey were the night’s keynote speakers. Since its inception, upwards of 400 campers have participated in the transformative, magical and life-changing program thanks to the generosity of donors, says camp director Anna White. A record $80,000 was netted, ensuring 70 participants from all corners of B.C. will get the chance to make new friends, access resources, engage in innovative workshops and get their summer camp on.
KARAOKE KING: Recognized as one of the vanguard male vocal ensembles in North America, Chor Leoni hosted its third Chor Leoni Idol, featuring eight of the ensemble’s finest singers who battled for karaoke supremacy. Yours truly along with CBC’s Rick Cluff and Gloria Macarenko served as judges of the riotous night in support of male choral music excellence. Artistic director Erick Lichte emceed the yearly singing competition in front of a sold-out crowd that piled into the Lamplighter Pub in Gastown. Voting with their dollars, fans would eventually crown Keith Sinclair top idol, edging fellow singers Byron Hanson and Ben Scoten. Nearly $15,000 was raised from the night of hilarity and music.
