Cornerstone’s Purple Tie Gala raises $225K in fight to end homelessness

At Cornerstone Housing for Women, its true foundation is not the bricks and mortar that provide shelter but the community that stands solidly beneath it. That loyal support system was celebrated Saturday at the non-profit organization’s 6th annual Purple Tie Gala. Held at the National Arts Centre, the dinner raised $225,000 for Cornerstone, which runs the city's oldest and largest emergency shelter for women and gender-diverse individuals, as well as offers supportive housing and outreach programs for women trying to rebuild their lives. Earning a standing ovation was the $100,000 gift made by development firm KTS Properties, represented by Tanya Chowieri. The donation to Cornerstone is the second of three $100,000 donations that KTS Properties has committed to Ottawa-based charities. It announced its first donation to Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre in August.

As challenging and complex as the issue of homelessness is, the Purple Tie Gala tries to keep things fun. For example, attendees were led to believe the returning co-hosts, Joseph Cull and Heidi Rodger, were running late for the dinner. The crowd watched, via video, the purple-clad pair rushing to the NAC, she in her fancy gown, and he with his long cape flowing behind him. Seconds later, the main doors burst open and the party-starter music filled the air. The emcees — wearing attention-grabbing outfits — strode right in as everyone enthusiastically clapped along. There’s nothing subtle about these two. They co-chaired an organizing committee with fellow volunteer Corina O'Hearn, and Cornerstone's Sadie Kotze and Christopher O’Gorman, who's the acting director of development and communications.

TD Bank, represented by community engagement manager Lee Rose and TD Private Investment Counsel’s Colin Noble, gave a gift of $7,500. As well, McDonald Brothers Construction, represented by Matt Wilson and Blake Goss, sponsored the evening's buy-a-brick fundraising initiative.

Cornerstone Housing for Women, which started in 1983 with three cots in a church basement, is a ministry of the Anglican Diocese in Ottawa. Its emergency shelter accommodates at least 150 women.  The shelter is as much about the people as it is about the physical building itself, Bishop Shane Parker of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa reminded the room. “You are part of the shelter — your hearts, your resources, your prayers, your best wishes, your involvement, your volunteerism create an integral part of the shelter that makes the safe spaces that Cornerstone runs.” Board chair Mark Holzman was there with four generations of family, including his mother (former Ottawa mayor Jackie Holzman), two of his children – Josh Holzman and Rebecca Leikin – and his 10-year-old grandson, Hunter Leikin, who looked particularly cute wearing a purple bowtie from his zayde (grandpa). Holzman said Cornerstone's goal is to "get out of the shelter business" by providing more supportive housing as a "a place for people to rebuild their lives, to be the best they can be."

Along with its emergency shelter, Cornerstone has created supporting housing for 156 women and gender-diverse folks. Its newest facility is its 46-unit redevelopment on Eccles Street. It opened in Centretown West this past spring. While the project received significant capital funding from the government, additional money was needed to help run the programs. A total of $1.25 million was raised from more than 350 donors ranging from individuals to foundations to corporate supporters to volunteer fundraisers to faith communities to staff, Mark Holzman told the room. The evening saw former interim executive director Kate Jackson introduce her successor, healthcare leader Esther Moghadam, former chief nursing officer and director of community wellness and chronic disease prevention at Ottawa Public Health. Moghadam spoke about how privileged she feels in her new leadership role at Cornerstone. “In my 40-plus years, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team that cares so deeply and so passionately about the women that they serve at Cornerstone,” said Moghadam while expressing her excitement about working with her team "to continue to transform the lives of so many women from crisis to housing to health and to healing." Jackson remains with Cornerstone in her earlier role of director of finance and administration.

Cornerstone’s board members include vice chair Yasmin Khaliq, associate at Gowling WLG. Also spotted that night were Shaw Centre CEO Nina Kressler and Rosemary Thompson, volunteer chair of the ByWard Market District Authority; and former Cornerstone employee Jessie-Lee Wallace, who launched Purple Tie Gala in 2019. She's now with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation. Long time business supporters included Thyme & Again owner Sheila Whyte and fashion designer Frank Sukhoo, who was the perfect volunteer to help choose the three best outfits with fellow judges Kathy Godding and the Ottawa Business Journal. Global public relations consultancy firm Edelman hosted a table that included CTV News Ottawa anchor and 580 CFRA host Patricia Boal and CTV News senior producer Stephanie Ha. Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario Patricia Kosseim was there with a group of women from the federal government, working in privacy policy and data protection. Needless to say, they weren't spilling any beans. Incidentally, privacy specialist Andréa Rousseau from the Treasury Board was chosen as one of the best-dressed winners for her glitzy floor-length royal purple gown. The evening’s live auction saw attendees bid on a round-trip flight for two from WestJet; a dinner at Fairouz Cafe and a hotel stay at The Westin; a Fogo Island-inspired five-course dinner for 12 from Thyme & Again at its second-floor event space, Nest; a fitness package from Body Elevation Fitness, True Form Fitness and Lululemon; and a dinner and show at the NAC, with a stay at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Among the winning bidders was Connie Duck. The auction was led by Roger and Cull, the latter of whom didn’t hold back in sharing exactly how sweaty he felt following his high-energy entrance, combined with the bright lights and his elaborate attire. Cull’s outfits are an integral part of his whole schtick. Last year, he donned angel wings so massive that most guests in the room were literally touched by an angel that night.

caroline@obj.ca