The 24th Annual Valentine's Ball benefitting the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence was a huge success, raising $637,298 net thanks to the generosity of close to 450 guests, sponsors, and donors. Everyone was thrilled to reunite again at Château Vaudreuil's Pavillon sur le Lac and celebrate this special occasion.
Chair of the organizing committee and Vice President of the Foundation Board of the Residence, Linda Ward O'Farrell, noted, "It was an amazing evening being able to celebrate together, in person. Organizing the annual Valentine's Ball once again was such a pleasure. Thanks to a passionate and dedicated team who worked tirelessly, we raised important funds for the Residence to continue offering quality palliative care."
Musical performances included Adam James and Dawn Tyler Watson, accompanied by the jazz trio, The Cool Side of Things. The gourmet dinner was followed by an evening of dancing with The Fundamentals. The money raised that evening is a crucial source of funding for the acclaimed palliative care provided by the Residence.
PHOTO: Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence
From left to right: Jamie Orchard, co-host of the evening and Senior Advisor, Public Relations & Media, VIA Rail Canada; Russel Williams, former MNA of Nelligan and co-founder of the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence (Residence), Joseph Broccolini, honorary president of the ball and Executive Vice-President of Broccolini, Dale Weil, Executive Director of the Residence, Keri Elkas, president of the Foundation Board, Yolande James, co-host of the evening and Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion at Radio-Canada.
"Tonight, we had so much to celebrate: first and foremost, our incredibly supportive community, our donors, our sponsors, our volunteers, and our employees who, day in and day out, fulfill the Residence's mission of providing quality palliative care for our patients and their families," said Dale Weil, Executive Director for the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence. "We are so very grateful for the unwavering commitment and support the Residence receives from the community."
The Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence is an independent, non-profit organization that provides services free of charge to patients and their families. The Residence relies on community support and fundraising activities to raise more than $4 million each year, which complements their government subsidy. With its 23 beds, the Residence is the largest free-standing palliative care facility in Canada and is recognized as a leader in its field. Since its inception, the Residence has provided end of life care for over 5,200 patients and 20,000 family members.
At the helm of the evening's program again this year were Yolande James, Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion at Radio-Canada, and Jamie Orchard, journalist and Senior Advisor, Public Relations & Media, VIA Rail Canada. Joseph Broccolini, Executive Vice-President of Broccolini, shared the importance of getting involved in their community. His remarkable engagement and support in his role as Honorary President have greatly contributed to the success of the ball.
Provincial and municipal politicians in attendance at the event included MP Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-St-Louis), and MNAs Monsef Derraji (Nelligan), Brigitte Garceau (Robert Baldwin), as well as West Island mayors Jim Beis, Heidi Ektvedt, Michel Gibson, Tim Thomas, and Alex Bottausci.
The TDPCR sincerely thanks their major sponsors who supported the Ball this year: Broccolini, Pfizer Canada, Merck Canada, Hagen Group and TASK. Other sponsors for the evening included CANAM GROUP, the Otis Grant and Friends Foundation, Charles River, Delmar International, Fondation Famille Vachon, Voluntas Commemoration, Roxboro Excavation, Block Bindings & Interlinings, Diane Demers, Domenic & Lily Mancini, McCarthy Tétrault Foundation and the Novak Family.
SOURCE: Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence.
