Words+Interview: Sumona Roy
THE 19TH ANNUAL BUTTERFLY BALL® 2016 RAISES $460,000 FOR TORONTO’S ONLY CHILD & YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE
Boost CYAC held their Annual Butterfly Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel for an amazing cause. Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (Boost CYAC) raised an unprecedented $460,000 to support its critical work. The sold out event hosted 430 guests and had Entertainment Tonight Canada’s Cheryl Hickey hosting the evening.
Boost CYAC is a creative community response to child abuse investigations. A partnership among local community and government agencies, it brings together all professionals involved in child abuse cases under one roof, for a coordinated, interdisciplinary response to child abuse victims in Toronto. In addition to housing Toronto’s only child & youth advocacy centre, Boost CYAC offers a number of direct services including, primary prevention, public education, trauma assessment and therapy and court preparation for child witnesses. boostforkids.org
“The Butterfly Ball has been a critical part of Boost CYAC’s funding for many years; our sponsors and guests keep stepping up to support us,” stated Daniela De Gasperis, Chair of the event.. “Money raised last night will ensure that children and youth who have experienced abuse can get the support they so desperately need.”
During dinner, the room was filled with the sweet sounds of singers Sean Jones and Ivana Santilli and saxophonist Miles Raine; guests danced the night away with BELLOSOUND. Master auctioneer Brett Sherlock, of Christie’s Canada kept things orderly during the enthusiastic bidding in the live auction. Items included a trip to London Fashion Week, and a day-long experience with Toronto’s Emergency Task Force. Guests were treated to a $100 gift card from DAVID’S Footwear.
Fargo star, Bokeem Woodbine was also in attendance to support a charity near to his heart. “Boost provides such important services for children and families in Toronto. I’m thrilled to be here to support this great cause,” stated Woodbine.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Bokeem Woodbine who spoke about Boost CYAC and his thoughts about the role of social media and Hollywood in terms of families and well-being.
Bokeem Woodbine, who plays Mike Milligan on Fargo is helping children and teens at Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre by raising awareness for the issue of child abuse and human trafficking in Toronto.Woodbine has been supporting the organization with events such as Giving Tuesday.
On #GivingTuesdayCA, Bokeem and Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre used red sand to fill the cracks of sidewalks at Yonge & Dundas to make visible the over 40,000 concerns of child abuse reported each year in Toronto. This event is part of the #RedSandProject, a movement that started in New York to bring awareness to marginalized populations that have fallen through the cracks of our society.
Images courtesy of bkonthescene
