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WISH COMES TRUE: Kids scored big at the Children’s Wish Foundation’s inaugural gala after 150 guests filed into the Vancouver Art Gallery to support the Canadian charity’s debut on the fundraising scene. Party chair

Lana Bradshaw, along with committee members Jean Pierre Cartier, Dennis Gocer, Jessica Hollander, Jody Rebak, Gillian Segal, Stephanie Segal, Brittany Wong, Chantelle Wong and Joan Young fronted the David

Hawksworth- and Jackie Ellis- catered dinner in support of the non-profit’s efforts to grant wishes for children aged three to 17 living with life-threatening illnesses. An impressive $80,000 was generated at the black-tie affair. Among the attendees was wish recipient

Matthew Matthew Boroditsky, Boroditsky, who has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Following a school trip to Guatemala, the 17-year-old St. George’s student wished for a medical facility to provide care to disadvantaged children and their families in Central America. He recently had his wish granted and will see funds support his dream of a health centre for those in need. Since its inception in 1987, the Children’s Wish Foundation has granted wishes to more than 20,000 children nationwide. Newly appointed chapter director Jennifer Jennifer Petersen Petersen says more than 100 wishes are granted in B.C. annually, at an average cost of $10,000 per wish.

Party chair Lana Bradshaw, right, raised $80,000 for Jennifer Petersen’s Children’s Wish Foundation. Every year, more than 100 wishes are granted to B.C. children with life-threatening illnesses. wish angels

Children’s Wish Foundation board chair Jan Grude, left, and CEO Chris Kotsopoulos flanked gala MC Sonia Beeksma, who sparkled in Alan Anderson jewels and a Nicole Miller dress.

Acclaimed chef David Hawksworth catered the inaugural dinner to benefit the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, B.C. and Yukon chapter. Guests dined on seared albacore tuna and 48-hour-braised short rib, before finishing with Jackie Ellis’s passion...

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Foundation director Loveena Chera, left, and committee member Chantelle Wong welcomed 150 guests to the gala dinner.

Gala committee and foundation board member Jessica Hollander and her partner, Vital Logistics’ Mathew Gruben, a gala sponsor, contributed to the $80,000 raised at the debut event.

Teens Matthew Boroditsky and Katrina Cameron had their wishes granted by the national non-profit charity.