GROWING HUNGER: The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society provides assistance to more than 28‚000 people every week, with children representing 26 per cent of the population in need. CBC hosted its annual food drive and open house in support of the non-profit agency. Personalities, including Tony Parsons, George Stroumboulopoulos and The Wealthy Barber’s David Chilton, were on hand for the daylong telethon.
POWER LUNCH: Nearly two decades ago, YWCA Crabtree Corner provided Diane Forsythe-Abbott with a telephone and a warm place to sit on a stormy night when she locked herself out of her car. That chance encounter was the beginning of a lasting friendship, marked by this year’s annual fundraising luncheon for the family resource centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Yours truly played auctioneer at the power lunch fronted by Cynnie Woodward and Ingrid Abbott at Hy’s Encore. Business and community leaders gathered to raise more than $50,000 for the halfway house for young moms and their children.
COOLEST FESTIVAL: The Whistler Film Festival wrapped up last week. Gracing the white carpet at the five-day celebration were Hollywood notables Richard Dreyfuss, Melissa Leo and Jason Priestley. The 13th running served up 84 films from 14 countries. Continuing to support cinematic excellence and more than $31,500 in prize monies, the festival awarded The Husband, by Bruce McDonald, the coveted $15,000 Borsos prize.
