SUCCESS STORY: SUCCESS Foundation’s flagship fundraiser Bridge to SUCCESS raised $506,000 for vital services and programs helping seniors, youth and newcomers settling into the country. More than 600 guests convened at the Westin Bayshore for the yearly dinner and concert, chaired by Jason Lam and Walter Soo. Premier Christy Clark was among a gaggle of 30 glad-handing politicos who made the scene. Clark paid homage to the society for its decades of service. Founded in 1973, with Maggie Ip as the founding chair, the firm, which originally operated out of a 300-square-foot Chinatown office, has grown to 20 locations around B.C., serving some 140,000 clients annually, including most recently 150 Syrian families who have arrived in the province.
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GIFT OF SPORT: Twenty-two of the province’s biggest names in sport, including B.C. Lion’s quarterback Travis Lulay, longtime Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Whitecaps fan favourite Carl Valentine and Olympic rower Kyle Hamilton, fronted KidSport Richmond’s Creating Community Champions Gala. A capacity crowd filed into the Hilton Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Airport Hotel for the third installment of the fundraising dinner and auction led by Canucks alumni Ryan Walter and Karen Nakhleh. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»sportscaster Rob Fai presided over the festivities, which included a champagne reception, three-course dinner and fundraising games of chance. The celebration of sport and community investment, saw attendees generate a record $80,000 — up $30,000 from last year’s score — to give underserved youth the opportunity to play and enjoy the benefits of sports.
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DANCE PARTNERS: Rising French talent Medhi Walerski choreographed Ballet BC’s latest offering, two works titled Prelude and Natus, the latter which saw its world premiere as part of Program 2. A feast for the senses, the best moments of both pieces came during the ensemble scenes, made even more grand thanks to the sheer number of performers on stage. The company’s dozen dancers were joined by15 artists of Arts Umbrella Graduate Dance Program on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage. The result of a new alliance formed last year by both arts organizations, the partnership aims to strengthen B.C.’s dance community and to solidify Vanhattan as a launching pad for budding dance careers. Ballet BC’s artistic director Emily Molnar and incoming Arts Umbrella executive director Paul Laroque were on hand for the opening performances and post reception to celebrate the dance union.
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Hear Fred Mondays 8:20am on CBC Radio’s The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM;Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @FredAboutTown
