Few tickets left for Dining for Dreams May 18, 2012 by Camille Jensen
Annual fundraiser celebrates Heroes of Ability, hosts live and silent auctions
Fewer than 20 tickets are left for Dining for Dreams 2012, the BC Centre for Ability’s (BCCFA) premiere fundraising gala taking place next Thursday, May 24.
Staged at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, the annual event is now in its 13th year and raised a record $160,000 for the Centre in 2011.
CTV News at Six anchor Tamara Taggart returns as Dining for Dreams chair —a role that allows her to give back to the Centre for its support and kindness to her family, which includes four-year-Beckett, who has Down syndrome.
"I sincerely cannot imagine our lives without them — the BCCFA is family," Tamara says. “I'm proud to return for my third consecutive year (as chair).”
Each year, the Centre celebrates five Heroes of Ability who will share their stories of challenge, change and triumph with the Dining for Dreams audience.
BCCFA Communications Manager and Dining for Dreams Co-ordinator Audrey Kwan says she hopes attendees draw inspiration from the Heroes’ stories, which communicate universal themes of joy, perseverance, authenticity and selflessness.
“The stories told at Dining for Dreams are powerful in essence,” Audrey says, adding they remind us of what it means to be human.
Dining for Dreams includes live and silent auctions. Among this year’s live auction highlights is an array of impressive items, including dinner for five with Top Chef Canada’s Dale MacKay, a diamond pendant valued at $3,200, four pairs of tickets to any Vancouver Canucks game next season, and a private cruise and dinner for 6 people.
Participants can also bid on silent auction items that include gift certificates for food, apparel, sport events and quick getaways.
Everything Wine is sponsoring its second wine raffle, sourcing 100 wines from around the world that appeal to casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike. Rick Meinhardt, Manager of the Morgan Crossing superstore, says he’s hoping raffle ticket sales will beat last year’s inaugural benchmark of $9,000.
“We try to make sure it is a valuable prize, something that everyone would be interested in, but after that, it’s all about the cause and people stepping up to the plate and saying thanks for donating a good prize, we’re going to make it worthwhile for this cause.”
— Watch for Dining for Dreams event stories and pictures coming soon
If you have a story to share or feedback on this article, please e-mail camille(at)axiomnews.ca.
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