Time to Celebrate: 30/10 Gala 2023 – With Photo Album and Patron List

It was a Time to Celebrate: Philip Aziz Centre/Emily’s House 30/10 Anniversary Gala – 30 years of in-home hospice, and 10 years of in-patient paediatric hospice care.

The Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care and Emily’s House origin stories were brought to life – reminding us all of a heartfelt mission that emerged from a heartfelt vision.  The program ignited a fresh excitement for this specialized work in the hospice care sector.

Speaker presentations featured: Rick Firth, CEO, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO); Rauni Salminen, CEO, Philip Aziz Centre and Emily’s House; Dr. Adam Rapoport, Medical Director, SickKids, Paediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) and Emily’s House; and, Amy and Chris Manning (Emily’s House “Rockstar” parents and Family Advisory Counsel Representatives). (Videos or excerpts will be posted at a later date).

Special thanks to the performers and program participants who donated their time and talent to mark this anniversary occasion: Jackie Richardson; Steven Hearn and the Barenaked Ladies; Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo; and, Tom Harrington, host of “The World This Hour with CBC National Radio News.” Ron Korb and band performed 40+ songs over the course of the evening; plus their live collaborative performance with Jackie Richardson was a show stopper that guests raved about for days.

Among many notable gala attendees were members of Emily Yeskoo’s Family, and members of (Toronto artist) Philip Aziz’s Family:  it was a new historic moment for our organization, and may inspire others to leave their own legacy.

So far, our anniversary celebrations have raised approximately $186,000, including funds to replace six of eight 10-year-old hospital beds at Emily’s House this year. Additional event donations will make the equivalent of over 35 Days of Care at Emily’s House available to medically-fragile children with an underlying life-limiting illness, or a range of program options for hospice clients in their own home in the GTA.

Time to Celebrate:  Philip Aziz Centre/Emily’s House 30/10 Anniversary Gala was made possible in large part thanks to corporate sponsors: Presenting Sponsor: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited; Event Sponsors: Deloitte, Goldstein Financial Consultants, and Starlight Investments; as well as, Guest Gift Sponsor: Mark Anthony Wine and Spirits. Event photography was donated generously by Lorne Chapman Photography. (See photos album at the bottom of this article).

Thank you to Hospital Bed Donors: Balsam Foundation; Michael and Carol Mueller Foundation; and, The Anglican Foundation of Canada. (For more on the Emily’s House 10-Year Anniversary Hospital Bed Replacement Capital Campaign for Children’s Hospice, visit: https://paceh.ca/emilys-house-10-year-anniversary-hospital-bed-replacement-for-childrens-hospice/).

We are grateful to every Emily’s House Day of Care Patron ($1,000), charitable donor, Silent Auction donor, ticket buyer, special guest and volunteer. Patrons of $1,000 or greater will be recognized in our Annual Report and on our Donor Wall.

Lastly, congratulations to the 30/10 Gala Event Committee: Rauni Salminen, Jennifer Kroezen, Mike Mueller, Obed Jean-Jacques, and Patricia Favre.

Sponsors:

Note: 2023 is a “Time to Celebrate” 30/10 – thirty years of the Philip Aziz Centre for a Hospice Care (PAC), and ten years of Emily’s House children’s hospice. We hope you enjoy the varied historic stories, articles and videos being published on our website to mark this milestone occasion.