Vancouver`s high on philanthropy

WP18 nationalpost.com
WEEKEND POST
citylife
NATIONAL POST, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2010
Parties, Culture & Society
Singer Sarah McLachlan flanked by artists Brent Comber
and Athena Bax at the Unite with Art benefit.
Telus execs Tony Geheran and Peter Green, with their
wives, Lindsay and Susan, respectively, at Face the World.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, philanthropist
Alexandra Diez Barroso and Telus director Kenn Hamlin.
Vancouver’s high
on philanthropy
Face the World;
plus
Unite with Art
Winsor Gallery owner Jennifer Winsor and UBC Associate
Dean of Dentistry Dr. Christopher Zed at Unite with Art.
FRED LEE
I
Northwest Coast Native Art gallery owner Douglas Reynold
and designer Corrine Hunt raise a glass for Unite with Art.
Event planner Pamela Smith with B.C. Centre for
Excellence in HIV/AIDS director Dr. Julio Montaner.
t was an extraordinary
night of philanthropy,
glitz and glamour. Army
& Navy president and CEO
Jacqui Cohen welcomed 220
guests, including musicians
Elvis Costello, Diana Krall and
Nickleback’s Chad Kroeger,
to her 20th Face the World
Foundation fundraiser, at her
beautiful home overlooking
English Bay. Attendees shelled
out $1,500-a-ticket for the dinner and auction.
After a champagne reception sponsored by ChartonHobbs, guests dispensed with
their money quickly during
the live auction before feasting on a royal repast prepared
by Chef Umberto Menghi.
Vicki Gabereau emceed the
event and jazz pianist Michael
Kaeshammer entertained.
Generous donors to the
event included David and
Jill Lyall; Zev and Elaine
Shafran; Wayne Deans;
Craig and Carrie Diamond;
Blaine Culling; John and
Rebecca McKay; Jamie and
Christie King; Riccardo and
Penny Nardelli; Hugh and
Donna Tangye; Chip and
Shannon Wilson; Marlene
Cohen; Leslie Diamond;
Sid and Dora Golden; Joan
and Alex Gusola; Bruce and
Ginny Orr; Kip Woodward;
Garry and Lis Zlotnik; Paul
Fletcher and Maria Pinelli;
and Elise and Richard Rees
The event raised $1.5-million for local charities.
“It is only through donations that Face the World is
able to contribute to so many
worthwhile charities,” Cohen
said. “Thanks to the grace and
generosity of our many ‘angels,’
we will continue to change the
lives of people in our community who need it most.”
The third annual Unite with
Art Auction Gala was a spectacular evening of art and
advocacy, chaired by philanthropist and Mindset Media
co-founder and executive
director Alison Lawton. A
capacity crowd packed into
Maynards Fine Art and Antiques for the UNICEF Canada
benefit, which was emceed by
former Corner Gas star Tara
Spencer-Nairn. L aw t o n
kicked things off by pledging
$100,000 and rallying four
others, at $25,000 each, to
match her donation.
Among the artworks up for
auction was Gabryel Harrison’s Braille work, Open Your
Heart , which fetched $14,000,
contributing to the record
$460,000 raised to assist
UNICEF’s Unite for Children,
Unite against AIDS campaign.
Among the art enthusiasts
in attendance were Gerald
Hartwig, Stephen Carruthers, Dr. Julio Montaner;
Treana Peake, Russell
Hollingsworth; Douglas
Reynolds, Jennifer Winsor;
Walter Pela; Angus Reid;
and singers Sarah McLachlan and Ali Milner.
Weekend Post
bccitylife@nationalpost.com
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PHOTOS BY FRED LEE FOR NATIONAL POST
Canaccord Capital’s Vandana Varshney, pianist Michael
Kaeshammer and Charmaine Crooks at Face the World.
Kasondra Cohen and her mom, Jacqui Cohen, welcomed
Nickleback’s Chad Kroeger to their Face the World soiree.
Event chair Alison Lawton with Gabryel Harrison whose
Braille painting fetched $14,000 for Unite with Art.
At the Unite with Art UNICEF benefit for children affected by HIV/AIDS: artist and contributor Athena Bax; singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan; and Unite with Art co-founder Julie Lee.
At Jacqui Cohen’s Face the World fundraiser for local charities: designer Janelle Washington and Face the World Foundation director Christie King.