Planning a black-tie gala at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex is big undertaking, particularly for a volunteer committee of students and young people organizing a first-time event without the help of an event management firm or a PR agency. “We have a few corporate members on board but most of us are students,” said Vanessa Drautz, co-chair of the inaugural Oceana Ball, held Monday in support of the Herbie Fund at the Hospital for Sick Children. “We really wanted to put a first-class event together. We wanted to do something to contribute.”
Drautz worked alongside committee chair Brittney Kuczynski and fellow co-chairs Alireza Rafiee, and Michelle Spezza to plan the event in conjunction with Vicky Braverman, development coordinator for community involvement at the SickKids Foundation. “I support them from a fund-raising side, but the details like the decor and food, I don’t get involved in that,” said Braverman, who reported that the Herbie Fund—a volunteer-based organization that helps bring kids from all over the world to the Hospital for Sick Children for life-saving surgeries—relies solely on fund-raising efforts.
Founded 30 years ago, the organization has helped more than 600 children from 90 countries. “It’s great to meet people like this who work so hard on their own will to make an event for the Herbie Fund. We’re very grateful for their efforts,” Braverman said. “It is a big undertaking to do something like this, especially as a first event to have a black tie gala at the Liberty Grand.”
The committee spent four months planning the ball, securing sponsorships, promoting the gala, and selling tickets. “In the last minute it all came together beautifully. A lot of people pulled through in the final hour,” Drautz said of the event, which drew close to 200 guests and featured a water theme. “Water is the one thing that connects us all, no matter what walk of life you come from,” said Drautz, who suggested the name. Models dressed in mermaid costumes from Malabar and turquoise blue linens in the dining room added to the theme.
Citytv's Gord Martineau—host of the annual Herbie Day fund-raiser at the Hospital for Sick Children—addressed the crowd. DJ Eric Ling spun tunes for guests, and musical performances included Breanne Arrigo, Emma Ravenhill, Frank Campanile, and electric violinist Dr. Draw.
Event sponsors included Laurie Williamson Pontiac, Buick, GMC Ltd., Andy Thé-Anh, Internat Energy Solutions, Jurlique, Specchio, Pizza Pizza, and the Laser Generation.
