Pinot on the Patio raises $60K for CASA
Pinot on the Patio raised more than $60,000 for CASA
There were five heroes last Tuesday night when more than $60,000 was raised at my Canada’s birthday-themed Pinot on the Patio at the Royal Glenora Club.
The first was Bill Knight, who quietly asked me how much I was short in my three-year bid to raise $500,000 for the CASA Foundation.
“CASA is outstanding in helping youngsters and their parents with mental-help issues,” says self-effacing business entrepreneur Knight, who has donated multimillions of dollars to local charities.
When I told him it was about $8,000, he said, “I’ll take care of any balance you have.”
The second hero was construction machine salesman Brian Moody, who wouldn’t be beaten when others bid on a meal for 20 with wine and a concert at the River Cree Casino and Resort.
Resort general manager Vic Mahajan had at first donated a night for 10, but kept upping the number as bids flew in.
Moody paid $5,000 for the item and then spent another $1,600 on a dinner for eight at Sonny Sung’s Bistecca Italian Steakhouse on 23 Avenue.
“One in five children has a mental-health issue and that’s only the youngsters whose parents sensibly ask for help,” said Moody.
“We don’t know the real number. Some parents don’t want to admit they have a problem. But mental-health troubles begin in childhood.
“I have joined the CASA Foundation board to see how best I can help. It’s important parents are made aware that help now might save heartbreak later.”
Neil MacGillivray, another city entrepreneur, brought an autographed jersey retired cyclist Ryder Hesjedal had donated to CASA. The rider is thought by some to be Canada’s greatest cyclist.
MacGillivray opened bidding on the jersey, which had been packaged with a VIP Tour of Alberta package.
When bidding slowed, he whispered to several people to up their bid and he would cover it. He eventually bought the package himself for $5,000.
In retrospect, it was heroes too numerous to mention who made the overcast rainy night a success.
There was Frank Flaman of fitness fame who donated $10,000 to cover Pinot costs. Nova Hotel’s Mike Mrdjenovich donated a bison and was disappointed when 250 guests only consumed about half of the 400 pounds of meat.
There was big-hearted Ramesh Devangodi of New Asian Village who arrives annually with a nocharge buffet fit for a maharaja. And Rotary’s Del Dilkie, who borrowed clothes from Hudson’s Bay for a Canadiana fashion show.
Instead of asking a fee, retired architect, artist and musician Fraser Brinsmead played his guitar and sang the works of many Canadian favourites, such as Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson and k.d. lang. And then donated an Ice District giclee print that sold for $1,400.
SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE
Clothier Sam Abouhassan, who has also raised many millions of dollars for charities, was his humble self last week after being inducted into Edmonton’s Hall of Fame for community service.
“There are so many more people deserving of the award than me,” said Abouhassan, who fled civil war in Lebanon in 1976 and arrived in Edmonton aged 20 with $14 in his pocket.
“I’m honoured, but I hope many others will be recognized in future. I have given back to our community because it has supported my business and given my wife and I and our two sons a good life.”
Abouhassan was a recipient of one of 12 Salute to Excellence Awards presented at the Winspear Centre.
Tommy Banks played the national anthem on the piano and Global TV’s news anchor Gordon Steinke, recently awarded the new Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for exceptional volunteer achievement, acted as emcee.
Abouhassan was 12 when, after his school principal suggested he take up a trade, he walked into a tailor’s shop and asked if he could help.
“They handed me a broom and I stayed until I left the country,” he says.
He was 22 when he opened his own tailor shop in the basement of Edmonton’s King Edward Hotel and signed up for a tailoring course at NAIT to learn the language.
Abouhassan went on to make a suit for then Oilers’ coach Glen Sather, who recommended him to the players in the team’s dynasty days.
The tailor befriended many of the players and celebrated with them in their dressing room that night in 1984 when they won their first Stanley Cup.
In 2000, Abouhassan and Kevin Lowe (six-time Stanley Cup winner) co-chaired the first Tee Up for Tots golf tournament supporting the Stollery Children’s Hospital. It has now raised more than $10 million.
Cousins Herb Belcourt, a businessman, Orval Belcourt, a social worker, and lawyer Georges Brosseau Belcourt, were recognized for creating the Canative Housing Corporation to provide affordable housing for indigenous people.
When the company was dissolved, assets were invested with the Edmonton Community Foundation and now, with $18 million, the fund provides more than 140 awards each year to support Metis students in more than 200 different post-secondary programs including university, apprenticeships and skill training.