Fred Lee's Social Community: All that glittered in 2019

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Earlier than we usher in a brand new decade, a glance again on the 12 months’s high events, memorable moments, and the individuals behind the most important and most lavish fundraisers within the Decrease Mainland. Yearly, British Columbians reveal their capability to care and to supply for these much less lucky. 2019 was an distinctive 12 months with most of the cities venerable occasions posting file 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.  Completely satisfied New 12 months!

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Vancouver Chinatown Basis Gala

Carol Lee’s fourth staging of her Chinatown Gala drew massive names and even greater 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 reworked into pure gold, encouraging attendees to offer generously. And so they 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 title as residents confirmed appreciation for his or her group hospital. Main the best way was change agent Jeff Wubs, founding father of Westland Insurance coverage. The 4 Seasons Lodge 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 gear.

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VGH & UBC Hospital Basis Time to Shine Gala

At all times a staple on one of the best dressed occasion listing, VGH & UBC’s annual Time to Shine Chinese language New 12 months Gala was one other sparkler. Judy Leung as soon as once more steered the dazzling occasion staged on the Fairmont Pacific Rim Lodge. From the advantageous eating, glamourous decor and unique public sale objects 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 Advantageous Meals Donald Leung confirmed the best way. The 12 months of the Pig celebration would usher in $5.36 million for the agency’s Way forward for Surgical procedure marketing campaign.

B.C. Youngsters’s Hospital For Youngsters We Care Gala

The Chinese language Canadian group got here collectively for the twenty fourth consecutive 12 months to assist little one well being in B.C. And what a lavish occasion it was. No small feat to show the Vancouver Conference Centre into an intimate occasion palace, however gala chairs Carmen Chan, Pao Yao Koo and Isabel Hsieh have 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, big crystal chandeliers that hung from the rafters, spectacular multimedia screens, towering recent flowers and a really beneficiant crowd. The end result: a file $4.12 million night time.

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B.C. Youngsters’s Hospital Basis Crystal Ball

Created by Isabelle Diamond in 1986, this venerable occasion has raised greater than $38 million for B.C. Youngsters’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 Lodge 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 ft early with presents of $500,000 every to get the fundraising occasion 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 greatest 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 College of theatre and music additional fuelled occasion spirits.

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Peace Arch Hospital Basis Area Odyssey Gala

An interstellar-themed affair greeted Peace Arch Hospital patrons. Essentially the most artistic occasion of 2019 noticed occasion friends 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 gear. 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 Enviornment.

B.C. Youngsters’s Hospital Basis A Evening of Miracles Gala

Greater than 440 friends packed the Marriot Pinnacle Lodge ballroom for the South Asian Group’s largest night time. One of the crucial vibrant and vibrant events on the town, the eleventh annual affair as soon as once more noticed occasion chair Majot Hallen welcome attendees — philanthropist, group leaders and captains of trade — who got here collectively to assist rework care for youngsters dwelling with incurable Sort 1 diabetes. The Backyard-themed occasion 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 fast entry clinic. Steered as soon as once more by Lisa Dalton and Susan Chow, the at all times stylish-event noticed a predominantly feminine crowd pack the Fairmont Pacific Rim Sapphire Ballroom for the noon-hour energy lunch and Boboli and Bacci vogue 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.

Youngsters’s Want Basis Evening of Wonders Gala

It was a file turnout for the Youngsters’s Want Basis’s Evening of Wonders Gala. Greater than 400 friends — 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 occasion planner Soha Lavin reworked the 84,000 sq. foot hanger right into a magical occasion palace the place attendees dined, danced and tipped out $550,000 to grant needs to children dwelling 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 most important home occasion of the 12 months in assist 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 shortly turned a viewing occasion. The formal program took a pause for occasion friends to look at the Toronto Raptors win the basketball championships. The historic victory bolstered occasion spirits with the champagne flowing as freely because the money. The 100 well-heeled friends would ship $425,000 for a new child screening program.

Kidney Gala

An emotional night of storytelling would see the Kidney Gala increase greater than $300,000 for the Kidney Basis of Canada, a brand new fundraising normal for the fledgling occasion. Native hockey coach Stephen Gillis and Toby and Bernadine Boulet, mother and father of Humboldt Broncos participant Logan Boulet have been the visitor audio system. Gillis’ pee wee staff rallied to assist their coach’s seek for a kidney donor producing a staff video that went viral. The Boulet’s shared of their son’s need to be an organ donor simply weeks earlier than his dying. Logan’s choice finally 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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