5th ANNUAL CANFAR YPC Presents: Paint The Town RED @ The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon | Toronto Reference Library (May 23, 2015)

Words+Interview: Sumona Roy

On the evening of Saturday May 23, 2015, the Young Professional Council (YPC) of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) held their fifth annual fundraising party — Paint the Town Red to help fund research to #EndAIDS. The setting of this must-attend event was the quite fitting Bram and Bluma Appel Salon, where party-goers revelled in a breathtaking view of the city’s lights from atop the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library.

Those who attended were treated to an assortment of healthy delicious snacks; a host bar sponsored by some of Canada’s leading breweries and distilleries; and the beats of DJ John Caffery. The host bar sponsors covered the gamut by providing wine, beer and liquor , which included Labatt/Stella Artois, Tag No.5 Vodka, and Barefoot Wine and Bubbly as sponsors.

Even the water was sponsored by Eska. The staff serving and representing the sponsors were friendly and provided top notch service to the party-goers. This annual party also provided an exclusive opportunity to shop artwork from the carefully curated online art gallery EYE BUY ART and there were some great gifts and experiences offered the silent auction. Air Canada, the events airline sponsor, donated a trip 2 to New York City with a purchase of a raffle ticket that was well received and was a smashing success.

During the evening, the attendees had the opportunity to hear Jeffrey Kroeker, chair of CANFAR’s Young Professional Council, speak on behalf of CANFAR with a very simple, to the point message for all.

“Paint the Town Red has become one of the must-attend charity events for Toronto’s young professionals. This year was particularly special, since we held the event in the Appel Salon, which has intrinsic links to CANFAR. Bluma Appel was one of the founding influences that created CANFAR in the ’80s.”

Since inception in 1987, CANFAR has invested more than $18 million in research initiatives across Canada. CANFAR is funded solely through the generosity of corporations, groups, and individuals across Canada.

Each year it is the responsibility of CANFAR’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to evaluate which research proposals seem most promising and likely to make a worthwhile contribution to the international body of HIV and AIDS research. CANFAR is dedicated to funding all aspects of research, including: fundamental and applied research; educational and prevention; care; psychosocial initiatives; and, community research.