SERVING IT RIGHT: The Canadian Liver Foundation’s Live Right Gala at the Pan Pacific Hotel aimed to raise funds to help children with liver disease live a longer life. It’s held nationally, with similar benefits in Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa. Yours truly, along with City Television’s Jody Vance, welcomed a capacity crowd of 300 guests into the Pan Pacific Hotel’s iconic Crystal Ballroom for Vancouver’s 12th instalment, presented by Scotiabank. Fronted by Monica Chui and Dr. Francis Ho, the charity dinner also honoured the contributions of health advocate and liver patient Natalie Williams, surgical liver transplant expert Dr. Charles Scudamore and community leaders Sunny and Florence Leong. The couple got the fundraising effort started, presenting a $150,000 cheque to organizers. Others followed suit and before evening’s end, the charity dinner served up a record-breaking $345,000 for life-saving research.
DAY OF GIVING: National Philanthropy Day is a special day set aside to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy, and those people active in the philanthropic community, have made to our lives, our communities and our world. The Vancouver chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals hosted its 18th edition at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Nearly 1,000 people attended the afternoon luncheon and awards ceremony, hosted by Dawn Chubai and AFP president Jennifer Johnstone. Seven individuals and businesses, noted for significant contributions to the community through philanthropy, were acknowledged with the prestigious Giving Hearts Award. Among the winners: Zeke Blumenkrans (youth philanthropist), Ming Gin and Devi Sangara (volunteer fundraiser), Patsy and Hilary Hui and Ryan and Cindy Beedie (outstanding philanthropists).
HOLIDAY SPARKLER: Since 1998, Vancouverites have improved the lives of patients at St. Paul’s by giving to the Lights of Hope campaign. The iconic Burrard Street display hosts hundreds of sponsored stars and more than 10 kilometres of twinkling lights — some 100,000 bulbs — built entirely by volunteers using donated materials. More than 3,000 supporters made the scene for the 18th instalment and $3-million fundraising effort. St. Paul’s staff and volunteers collectively pledged $400,000 and challenged the community to raise the same. Proceeds from the Lights of Hope campaign will raise much-needed funds for enhanced patient care, urgently needed equipment and world-leading research and teaching initiatives. Among this year’s major donors: Scotiabank, BCIT, Stantec, Global TV, Canada Scaffold and Stuart Olson.
