Foodie Gala Raises $34,000 for Haiti

CRWRC Newsroom | February 9, 2010

What do you get when seven world class chefs, one blues singer, and 145 food and music lovers get together?  In the case of last week’s Strength Through Unity dinner, the answer is more $34,000 for Haiti earthquake survivors.

The gala event was the brainchild of Jeff Vangeest, a chef at Diva at the Metropolitan Hotel in Vancouver.  Jeff’s brother Matt, lived in Haiti and used to work for CRWRC. According to Jeff, after learning that Matt and his family were safe he wanted to do something for the many other people in Haiti who were desperately in need.  He considered a variety of non-profit organizations, but came back to CRWRC because of the organization’s effectiveness and low administration and fundraising costs.

Jeff then recruited other local talent to join him.  Chefs David Hawksworth (Hawksworth), Andrey Durbach (Pied-à-Terre, La Buca), Angus An (Maenam), Jeremie Bastien (Boneta Restaurant), and Eleanor Chow (Chambar) agreed to cook for the event and local musician Jim Byrnes agreed to perform. More than 115 tickets (at $150 each) were sold.  The chefs also gave away about 30 tickets to local restaurants, spas, and businesses who donated food, wine, and gift certificates for a silent auction, which raised an additional $16,000. 

“The energy in the room was exhilarating. Jim Byrnes’ performance was exceptional, and the dinner itself was totally awesome – seven delicious courses each prepared by a different chef, ” raved CRWRC staff member Judy Eising.

Yet this event was not the only thing happening in North America to raise money for CRWRC’s Haiti response.  Across the United States and Canada individuals, churches, and schools used their creativity to come up with exciting ways to fundraise:

• The approximately 200 students at Smithville District Christian High school, for example, held a “cash for change” day.  Those that wanted to wear something other than their school uniform for a day, donated at least $5 to CRWRC’s Haiti earthquake response.  As a result, $1,500 was collected.
• Similarly, Beaches Alternative School in Toronto, Ontario held a coin drive and raised over $800.
• In Hudsonville, Michigan money was raised during high school basketball games between Hudsonville high school and Unity Christian high school.  Students collected donations, sold classic t-shirts, and sold tickets to raise more than $3,000.

For more inspiring stories, creative ideas, and upcoming Haiti benefit events, click here.

-by Kristen deRoo VanderBerg, CRWRC Communications