Vehicles and Violins: A winning combination

Lovers of vehicles, music from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), auctions and supporting charity was the draw for hundreds of guests who attended the Calgary Motor Dealers Association’s (CMDA) “An Evening of Vehicles and Violins Gala 2015” — the pre-cursor to the 2015 Calgary International Auto and Truck Show — the largest show of its kind in Western Canada. Since the first gala in 2000, more than $2.9 million has been raised for myriad charities including: Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre; Calgary Prostate Cancer Foundation; Hospice Calgary; Canadian Diabetes Association; Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation; and, The Missing Children Society of Canada, to name but a handful.

This year saw proceeds shared equally between three deserving charities: Fresh Start Recovery Centre; Kids Help Phone; and, Make-A-Wish Southern Alberta.

Congratulations to all involved on the success of the 16th annual event, especially gala chairperson Cindy Clark and co-chair Kelly Temple and Creative Outlet’s Jeff Eichler — as well as the scores of volunteers who made the evening so memorable.

Guests in attendance this night included: Calgary International Auto & Truck Show manager Jim Gillespie; Fresh Start board chair Craig Borgland with executive director Stacey Petersen; CPO’s Roxanne Young; Make-A-Wish board chair Lynne Douglas with CEO Kim Anthony; Kids Help Phone Alberta and NWT director Sylvia Whitworth with national board member Dwayne Vinck; Shaganappi GM owner Gary Sartorio and his daughter, Dallas; Calgary Herald’s Dean Jager, Laura Linnell and Mike Slimm; CREB’s Jamie Zachary; McManes Automotive vice- president Rick Bowie and president Jim McManes with Sotheby’s Calgary’s Wynn Alex Carr; Willow Park Golf Course’s Ken Bowie; and, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Alberta dealer principal Carlo Galasso.

PHOTOS: BILL BROOKS/ CALGARY HERALD The CPO’s Roxanne Young sets the mood at An Evening of Vehicles and Violins Gala 2015, the opening night gala for the Calgary Auto and Truck Show. Glorious music, cocktails, a fundraising auction and vehicles of all shapes, sizes and prices were front...

McManes Automotive vice-president of real estate Rick Bowie, left, Sotheby’s Wynn Alex Carr, McManes president Jim McManes and Ken Bowie from the Willow Park Golf Course were among the crowd at An Evening of Vehicles and Violins Gala 2015, the Calgary...

Calgary Herald regional digital manager Dean Jager, left, media sales manager Laura Linnell, CREB media services manager Jamie Zachary and Herald media sales consultant Mike Slimm attended the gala.

Shaganappi GM owner Gary Sartorio and his daughter Dallas were seen at An Evening of Vehicles and Violins gala. Dallas is among a handful of women enrolled in SAIT’s Automotive Management program.

Jim Gillespie is manager of the Calgary Auto and Truck Show. The show’s gala has, since 2000, raised more than $2.9 million for myriad charities.

Board chair Lynne Douglas and CEO Kim Anthony were on hand to represent Make-A-Wish Southern Alberta, one of three charities the gala was supporting.

Rolls-Royce dealer principal Carlo Galasso stands in front of a Rolls Wraith. For $430,000 plus tax, it’s yours.

Fresh Start Recovery Centre board chair Craig Borgland, left, and executive director Stacey Petersen attended the gala. Fresh Start was among the charitable organizations sharing in the proceeds.

Director Sylvia Whitworth and national director Dwayne Vinck represented Kids Help Phone, one of three charitable groups benefiting from the event.