With tickets sold out a month before the event, Casey House's SnowBall 2008: Passion benefit didn't seem to need much promotion. "It's mainly about word of mouth and creating a strong reputation year after year for an event that can't be missed," said Bill Calkins, development manager of events at Casey House, a specialty hospital for people living with HIV and AIDS. Calkins planned the evening with the help of a volunteer committee and Nicholas Pinney of Nicholas Pinney Design. To illustrate the fund-raiser's "passion" theme—and also to mark the 20th anniversary of Casey House—Pinney chose all-red decor for the dinner and its new award ceremony.
Guests including former Ontario premier Bob Rae filled the Ontario Room at the Fairmont Royal York for a cocktail reception, where singer John Alcorn performed and servers passed mixed drinks of vodka, cranberry juice, melon liqueur, lemon juice, and frozen cranberries. Silent-auction items set in front of shimmery drapes included a tomato-red Vespa LX scooter donated by the Canadian Scooter Corporation.The 700 guests in attendance dined on a three-course meal that included grilled vegetables, Alberta beef tenderloin with red-wine shallot mashed potatoes, and lemon meringue tart. An entertainment program organized by singer Molly Johnson featured a tango dance by Rex Harrington as an introduction to the dinner, an orchestral set by top Royal Conservatory of Music students, and a performance by soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.
This year's SnowBall also introduced an annual award program in honour of Casey House founder June Callwood, who died of cancer last year. Broadcaster Valerie Pringle hosted the awards, which featured short video tributes and awarded three guests for their social justice advocacy: MAC Cosmetics founders Frank Angelo and Frank Toskan, and Joan Anderson, a director at the AIDS Committee of Toronto.
Later in the evening, the colour scheme switched as guests moved into a blue-lit dessert lounge, where Billy Newton-Davis changed the musical vibe with a set of disco-influenced songs. "While SnowBall has a reputation for being an event where you can network, there's also a lot of fun and frivolity in the air," Calkins said. "People know this and look forward to it each year."
Guests including former Ontario premier Bob Rae filled the Ontario Room at the Fairmont Royal York for a cocktail reception, where singer John Alcorn performed and servers passed mixed drinks of vodka, cranberry juice, melon liqueur, lemon juice, and frozen cranberries. Silent-auction items set in front of shimmery drapes included a tomato-red Vespa LX scooter donated by the Canadian Scooter Corporation.The 700 guests in attendance dined on a three-course meal that included grilled vegetables, Alberta beef tenderloin with red-wine shallot mashed potatoes, and lemon meringue tart. An entertainment program organized by singer Molly Johnson featured a tango dance by Rex Harrington as an introduction to the dinner, an orchestral set by top Royal Conservatory of Music students, and a performance by soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.
This year's SnowBall also introduced an annual award program in honour of Casey House founder June Callwood, who died of cancer last year. Broadcaster Valerie Pringle hosted the awards, which featured short video tributes and awarded three guests for their social justice advocacy: MAC Cosmetics founders Frank Angelo and Frank Toskan, and Joan Anderson, a director at the AIDS Committee of Toronto.
Later in the evening, the colour scheme switched as guests moved into a blue-lit dessert lounge, where Billy Newton-Davis changed the musical vibe with a set of disco-influenced songs. "While SnowBall has a reputation for being an event where you can network, there's also a lot of fun and frivolity in the air," Calkins said. "People know this and look forward to it each year."
Red feather centrepieces
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Servers passed vegetable pakoras with yogurt dip at the cocktail reception.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
The Fairmont Royal York's Canadian Room was dressed in red decor.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Red feather balls on tall red batons served as centrepieces in the dining room.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
White couches and tables dressed the dessert lounge, which was illuminated with blue light.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
A small art auction displayed 10 pieces in the corner of the hotel's Ontario Room.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
A shimmery taupe curtain with golden dots acted as the backdrop for the silent-auction items.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Red cloth napkins folded into squares held the evening's program and menu.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Jazz singer and pianist John Alcorn played at the event's cocktail reception.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
