Funds New Health Care

Vaughan's premier Mayor's Gala at the Terrace a success

Over 1,000 people crowded the Terrace Banquet Centre last week for the Vaughan Mayor Gala, organized as a fundraiser for the Vaughan Health Care Foundation, an organization established in support of the project to build a hospital in Vaughan.
The tickets for the Gala, sponsored by Scotiabank, had been sold out days in advance, and a lot of people had been put on a waiting list, hoping to be able to get a last-minute ticket for what is regarded as Vaughan's Number 1 event of the year.
This year the Gala, prepared by a large committee co-chaired by Angelo Baldassarra and Leslie A. Fluxgold, was MC'd by CTV News' Ken Shaw and featured the artists of the Zero Gravity Circus.
"I'm overjoyed of seeing how much the cause of a hospital in our City is felt by so many of our residents," remarked mayor Michael Di Biase, a staunch supporter of the project.
The Gala raised over $290,000 ("We hope to pass the $300,000 mark, once everything will be factored in," added Madeline Zito, in charge of Communication for the City of Vaughan), bringing the total raised to about $600,000.
"Next event will be the 'Vaughan Run' marathon of September 26," mayor Di Biase reminded to the participants in closing his speech.
In addition to ticket sales, a good contribution came from an auction conducted during the Gala by an able Sam Ciccolini, who managed to get several substantial offers.
Franco Palladini opened the dances, soon followed by many participants, which included the whole City Council, the Consuls of Italy and Israel, several MPPs, Toronto City councillors and York regional councillors.
The list of the sponsors included over 100 companies, thus highlighting the social commitment of many corporate entities doing business with and in Vaughan.

Publication Date: 2004-05-16
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3965