PHOTOS: Dr. Peter Centre’s Passions Gala and the BC Children’s Hospital’s Crystal Ball

Dr. Peter Centre’s Passions Gala (November 30, 2023)

On the eve of World AIDS Day, attendees opened their hearts and wallets. Dr. Peter Centre’s Passions gala records its biggest fundraising total in two decades.

Gala co-chair Sophia Cheng along with Dr. Peter Centre CEO Scott Elliott welcomed some 300 guests to its annual culinary fundraiser.

Tam Nguyen escorted two-time gala co-chair Amelie Nguyen of Anh and Chi Restaurant to the foodie fete at Performance Works on Granville Island.

Best dressed. RBC Regional President Martin Thibodeau and his wife Caroline attended the Great Gatsby-themed affair. Thibodeau would present organizers with a cheque for $50,000.

Shirley Young and Dr. Peter Centre staffer Wyatt Fitzgerald. Guests were thanked by Young, whose son, Dr. Peter Jepson-Young, tracked his AIDS onset in the CBC TV series, The Dr. Peter Diaries in the 80s.

Chefs Sandy Chen and Jean Francis Quaglia were among the culinary talents of 18 restaurants who participated in this year’s event which supported people living with HIV/AIDS.

Firefighters Michael Varga, Corbin Edge, Shea Hobbis and Carson Wuerch’s Fire in the Kitchen dinner for 10 sold for $9,000 in the live auction, contributing to the record-setting $280,000 night.

First time attendees Echo Wu and Winnie Tsao dressed to impressed at the Gatsby inspired benefit. Proceeds supported the Dr Peter Centre’s vital food and nutrition program.

Vancouver city councillor Peter Meiszner and realtor Maria Kritikos enjoyed delicious bites, wine, and cocktails from the city’s top chefs.

Global TV’s Sophia Lui and yours truly emceed the annual event held on the eve of World AIDS Day.

BC Children’s Hospital’s Crystal Ball (November 18)

While the room was awash in pink, the dominant color was green at the 37^th Crystal Ball. With remarkable generosity, guests raised over $4.2 million for BC Children’s Hospital.

Irene DeLucchi, Chair of the 37th annual Crystal Ball, with fellow committee member Arya Eshghi.

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Malcolm Berry and board chair Julia Kim. Proceeds from the gala-do went to support a Clinical Trials Super Hub to advance new treatments and promote ground-breaking discoveries across all areas of the hospital.

Brad and Guinevere Sanderson shared how a clinical trial led to a life-changing breakthrough for their son Stuart living with Cystic Fibrosis.

Keith Brewster and Breanna McDonald of the Stober Foundation ignited the night of giving with a donation of $250,000.

Presenting sponsors Claire and John Nicola of Nicola Wealth. The couple also pledged $250,000 to support the Clinical Trials Super Hub at BC Children’s Hospital.

Committee member Sherry Doman with celebrity chef Umberto Menghi. Menghi’s culinary trip to Italy package fetched nearly $40,000 in the live auction.

Past BCCHF board chair Don Lindsay and Jennifer MacKenzie were among generous benefactors who contributed to the $4.2 million night.