On May 21, the Baeumler Family Foundation held its third annual "celebrity karaoke" gala at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto hotel. The fund-raiser’s 450-guest crowd included several famous faces, among them DJ Joel Zimmerman of Deadmau5, Suits actor Patrick J. Adams, and celebrity chef Lynn Crawford. The evening included an interactive silent auction, cocktails, and dinner; its centerpiece was a karaoke showcase that helped raised funds.
Here’s how it worked: The celebrity guests had their head shots added to an app, designed by Ready Set Auction, which guests could access at the event or online beforehand. At the event, those in attendance could donate money via the app to see their favorite celebrity get up and sing karaoke. There was a friendly spirit of competition among the celebrities, who were each keen on garnering the most donations to get up and sing. For example, Zimmerman donated $10,000 to see his girlfriend Kelly Fedoni and friends sing Madonna’s "Like a Virgin." The minimum amount to get a celebrity onstage was $2,000, a sum that could be reached over multiple bids. The event raised a total of $324,084; $31,740 came directly from karaoke donations.
