With its throwback theme to the Roaring 20s, luxe aesthetic, and 360-degree cocktail hub within the walls of the historic Fairmont Château Laurier, CHEO’s annual gala promises to be an unforgettable evening while impacting the future of pediatric healthcare in our region and helping to fund the most ambitious campaign in the hospital’s 51-year history.
The CHEO Gala, set for Nov. 27 and presented by TD Bank, is a signature event earmarked to support Kids These Days, CHEO’s $220-million campaign to transform pediatric care in the region.
The festivities will include a black-tie evening featuring a gourmet dinner curated by the Fairmont Château Laurier chef, live and silent auctions, and an engaging testimonial from a CHEO patient family whose life has been changed thanks to the treatment they received at the hospital.
“The gala is an evening of inspiration and impact,” says Emily Jamieson, CHEO’s vice-president of corporate philanthropy and community engagement. “We bring together our business community, our donors, and our nearest and dearest friends who are aligned in a single goal: to ensure kids and families we serve receive the best possible care.
“It’s fundamentally important because every person in that room is part of our bigger picture. They’re an integral part of our future, but also key to our here and now. They’re committed to improving the lives of their friends and neighbours, as well as people they’ve never met. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Rewind to the Roaring Twenties at the Fairmont Château Laurier
The theme of the Roaring 20’s is a nod to the 100th anniversary of the release of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby, first published in 1925.
“The venue, the Fairmont Château Laurier, lends itself beautifully to the theme, because it’s such a glamourous space steeped in tradition where exactly these kinds of decadent parties were happening in the 1920s,” says Jamieson. “Visually, we’ve been inspired by the theme – mostly through art deco – and we are excited to have a black and gold 360-degree-cocktail bar that will fill the Laurier Room that we will invite our guests to gather around before moving into the ballroom for their gourmet meal.”
Jamieson says the goal is to make guests feel as though they’re part of something “extra special and luxurious.”
The Kids These Days campaign reminds us that the world is different for today’s children and youth. It’s harder, more complex, and they are facing much more serious health issues than ever before. Kids are also waiting far too long for care, often beyond what is medically recommended.
Fueling CHEO’s ambitious redevelopment plan to meet complex pediatric care needs
Proceeds will help fund CHEO’s 10-year redevelopment plan, which includes an Integrated Treatment Centre for kids with physical and developmental disabilities, complex medical needs, and mental health challenges, along with an expanded emergency department and other improvement and expansion projects.
Gala committee member Amanda Beaubien, a mom of three, has relied on CHEO for her own children and knows just how important it is for others.
“Personally, I just felt like it was really important to give back, especially since the care CHEO provides is such an important service our city needs to have,” she says, adding that helping to plan this year’s gala has been a joy.
“Being able to unleash my creativity and planning a super fun night isn’t work – it’s a good time, and we’re giving back, so it’s even better.”
CHEO serves children in Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut from birth to the age of 18. Funds raised at the gala will directly support CHEO’s redevelopment plan to provide improved specialized medical care and therapeutic interventions to families in those regions who need it.
Ottawa’s business community has turned out in full force as sponsors for this glittering event. In addition to presenting sponsor TD Bank, Fullscript is the gala’s platinum sponsor and Bear Sterling Law Group and KeyRate Mortgages are venue sponsors.
Supporting CHEO has never been so elegant and engaging – tickets for a table of 10 cost $4,500 and are on sale now. Visit www.cheofoundation.com to reserve your seat now, as the event is expected to sell out. Then you can get to work on learning the Charleston.
