Steppin' Out at the 23rd Annual
This year, our guests were Steppin’ Out in support of the Children’s Aid Foundation at the 23rd annual Teddy Bear Affair on Saturday, November 14th, with patron sponsors, CGI and CIBC Children’s Foundation. The evening was an incredible success and more than $1 million dollars was raised in support of Canada’s abused and neglected children and youth.
The evening took guests back to a time when elegance and glamour were the name of the game. Sleek design and art deco accents transformed the Metro Toronto Convention Centre into an era when swing was in and the cool cat sounds of Benny Goodman and Bing Crosby brought ballrooms and nightclubs to life.
Between Canadian crooner and headliner Matt Dusk and Swing Shift, the house band, toes were tapping to the beat of swing music late into the night. The Dance Company brought the room to life with their elegant and timeless ballroom routine.
The Teddy Bear Affair was once again hosted by Breakfast Television co-hosts Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese who kept the crowd laughing with their witty banter and hilarious improv.
This year, the silent auction, sponsored by TD Waterhouse raised more than $114,000 and had more than 200 items available, including a trip to the new Breezes Panama and a purebred labradoodle! Through the website, guests were able to preview the art that was auctioned off before the event, which added to the excitement and anticipation.
One of the highlights of the evening is always our famous live auction. Sponsored by Air Canada Kid’s Horizons, live auction items included a trip to Dubai, Australia and Africa, as well as other exquisite items including a bathroom renovation, Yamaha piano and a home entertainment system.
In keeping with tradition, bears of all sizes played a big role in the evening. Our Collector Bears, sponsored by Royal Bank, were dressed to impress and ready to go to a good home. These 12 bears are each hand-crafted by our team of talented bear designers and are featured in our annual calendar. The Tiffany & Co. raffle bears were also in high demand with raffle prizes of Tiffany & Co. jewellery valued at over $25,000.
Guests at the gala commented that their favourite part of the evening was watching the Foundation’s annual video sponsored by Husky Injection Molding Systems, featuring some of our youth telling their story. For many of the people in attendance, seeing the difference they have helped realize makes the evening that much more special.
The evening would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our amazing steering committee. This group of talented and resourceful individuals, led by Frances McCart, worked tirelessly throughout the year bringing in donations and assisting the Foundation’s team to ensure the event was a huge success.
Over the last 23 years, the award-winning Teddy Bear Affair has raised over $18 million for some of the most disadvantaged children in our communities. One hundred per cent of proceeds go to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, enrichment opportunities and education programs.
To be a part of the magic in 2010, contact Niki Gastis at 416-923-0924 x 226 or niki@cafdn.org.
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