The 22nd Annual Valentine’s Ball benefitting the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence (the Residence) was a huge success raising $515,000 net thanks to the generosity of more than 400 guests, sponsors and donors. The event was held on a web platform in a fully reimagined format adapted to respect the current pandemic guidelines.
Guests enjoyed a four-course gourmet meal delivered to their homes as well as participated in an interactive virtual online program with a combination of live in-studio and pre-recorded content that featured exclusive musical performances, special guests and entertainment.
“While the past year has brought many changes to our lives, the Residence’s mission has remained the same: to provide quality palliative care to the community. All the money raised tonight will ensure that patients and their families continue to feel special, safe and comfortable at a most vulnerable time”, said Dale Weil, the Executive Director of the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence.
Among the guests were media, entertainment and sports personalities including Anthony Calvillo, legendary Montreal Alouettes quarterback and Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee, and Otis Grant, former WBO Middle Weight Champion of the World and Executive Director of the Otis Grant & Friends Foundation. Musical performances featured Dawn Tyler-Watson, Canadian Juno Award winning Queen of Blues, and Patrick Watson, Canadian singer and songwriter. Emmy Award winning Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée, Canadian actor, writer and comedian Patrick Huard, Canadian singer, actress and screenwriter Anik Jean, as well as media personalities Mark Kelley, Andrew Carter, Ken Connors, Sharon Hyland and Caroline Van Vlaardingen each shared special heartfelt messages throughout the evening.
At the helm of the evening's program again this year were Yolande James, RDI and CBC political analyst and Foundation Board member of the Residence, and Jamie Orchard, journalist and founder of the Second Act Project. The Honorary Co-Presidents of the Ball, Robert Havill, President, Foundation Board of the Residence and Allen Van der Wee, President, Operations Board of the Residence, spoke of their dedication to the Residence and their belief that everyone deserves dignity, compassion and love in their final days of life.
Major sponsors who supported the Ball this year: Hagen Group, Charles River, Pfizer Canada, TASK, National Bank and Merck. Other sponsors for the evening included Novartis, Roxboro Excavation, Ville de Pointe-Claire, Bristol Myers Squibb, Delmar International, Coca-Cola Canada and the Air Canada Foundation.
Chair of the organizing committee and member of the Foundation Board of the Residence, Linda Ward O'Farrell, noted, "The success of the virtual edition of the 22nd Annual Valentine’s Ball is thanks to a passionate and dedicated team who work tirelessly each year to organize the Residence's flagship fundraising event. A special thank you to the committee for their creativity and resourcefulness."
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