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RIPPLE EFFECT

As a very young child, Obakki Foundation founder Treana Peake was the recipient of a beautiful act of kindness. Peake and her mother annually received a white envelope of money that was anonymously slipped under their front door. There was never a return address or a note of explanation.

“Without the envelope of funds, there would have been no birthdays, no Christmas and no food on the table,” she said.

Growing up, Peake often wondered why someone would do it so quietly, never receiving any thanks, recognition or praise. She would never learn who her angel benefactor was.

The gesture of kindness became the essence of who Peake is and how the successful businesswoman lives her life — helping others. Peake’s foundation has been quietly transforming the lives of individuals in Bidi Bidi, one of the world’s largest refugee settlement camps in Uganda.

Some 285,000 people — mainly women and children — fleeing a brutal civil war, violence and famine have taken the long journey from South Sudan to Uganda in search of a better tomorrow. Making the trip countless times, Peake has seen firsthand the impact of her work and where it is needed most; from clean water initiatives and medical care to economic enterprises and education support.

Peake has been a powerful voice for the voiceless. To support her ongoing efforts, the humanitarian hosted her inaugural White Envelope Gala, enlisting Nickelback (her husband Ryan is a guitarist), Dan Mangan, Scott Helman, Barney Bentall and Dallas Green of City and Colour to headline her outdoor soirée.

The intimate party saw 200 of the province’s most affluent — philanthropists, business titans and industry leaders — arrive with their exclusive white invitation to the star-studded affair staged in the backyard of Peake’s West Vancouver waterfront home. A parade of black limos chauffeuring attendees dotted the road to the private engagement, sponsored by Nicola Wealth Management.

Realizing the ripple effect of their own generosity, guests dug deep into their designer purses and wallets

during the paddle raise and live auction to support Peake’s cause. The event saw maximum impact with more than $450,000 raised. Among the heavyweights spotted: Arya and Hamid Eshghi, Dana and John Montalbano, Melita and Lorne Segal, Jenny and John Newell and Nicole and Vern Milani.

Following the extraordinary night of giving, everyone was rewarded with an unforgettable concert under the stars by Canada’s top talents, capped off with a surprise performance by crooner Michael Buble and his superstar-to-be niece Jayde Buble.

Since its creation, over two million people have reportedly received support through the foundation and it can all be traced back to one person’s anonymous act of kindness.

YVR GALA SOARS

As usual, Nigel Newsome, president of the Clear Skies Foundation, led the charge for the annual YVR for Kids golf tourney and fundraising dinner.

From humble beginnings, the YVR airport-sponsored gala has become a major event for the airport community and source of funds for worthy local children’s charities. For one night, airlines, hotels, ground handling companies and construction companies set aside their differences and rivalries and focused on the children who need their help.

A full field first teed off bright and early under sunny skies at the Quilchena Golf and Country Club. Following the day of golf and camaraderie on the fairways, players joined several hundred supporters who checked in at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel for the benefit dinner and auction. In total, some 450 supporters packed the main ballroom for the awards ceremony and evening of fun and games. Veteran sports broadcaster and aspiring politico Steve Darling once again fronted the hoi poloi.

A successful $1,800 bid to be the first to eat signalled an impressive night ahead. Attendees would follow that up by further bidding up bucket-list experiences in the silent auction. A spirited live auction led by

Howard Blank and the first cake raffle added to the buying frenzy. It would culminate with a final call-out for cash, where attendees responded in spades, helping push the event’s final tally beyond the $300,000 mark — an increase of $50,000 from last year’s impressive haul.

Luminaries making the scene included Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Vancouver Airport Authority’s Reg Krake, 3BP Solutions CEO Ian Matheson, Richmond RCMP Supt. Will Ng, Air Transat’s Rod Ramage, Alaska Airlines’ Donna Sawyer and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice’s Debbie Butt, the program keynote. Since its inception, the community affair has generated more than $4 million for children’s charities.

Recipient of an act of kindness, Treana Peake, right, has devoted her life to helping others. The Obakki Foundation founder and South Sudanese refugee James Madhier shared the plight of people living in one of the world’s largest resettlement camps.

Nickelback band mates Ryan Peake and Chad Kroeger kibitzed before their acoustic performance at the White Envelope Gala at Peake’s West Vancouver waterfront home.

Event producer Soha Lavin welcomed spokenword artist Emmanuel Jal and Nigerian artist Laolu Senbanjo to the benefit.

Victoria Secret models Aluad Anei and Mari Malek travelled to Vancouver to support the Obakki Foundation’s efforts to help South Sudanese refugees in Uganda.

White Envelope Gala

Debbie Butt’s Canuck Place Children’s Hospice was a beneficiary of Nigel Newsome’s $300,000 YVR for Kids Gala. The haul was up $50,000 from the previous year.

Office administrator Bruna Suzuki and 3BP Solutions CEO Ian Matheson took in the charity dinner and fundraising games. The airport consulting firm was among a host of community sponsors that rally each year to support children’s charities.

Fairmont Hotel’s Lesliann Kuhn, Vancouver Airport Authority’sReg Krake and golfer Jennifer Newcombe were all smiles following a successful day on the links and reported $300,000 raised.

Air Transat’s Rod Ramage, Alaska Airlines’ Donna Sawyer andDr. Max Meyer were among a capacity crowd that filled the Sheraton Vancouver Airport for the airport community’s biggest night.

Clear Skies Foundation’s Michaela Vozenilek displayed one of the 40 cakes that were up for raffle, a new fundraising element that helped push the night’s final tally beyond $300,000.

Volunteering their time, Cathay flight attendants Vera Lam, left, and Tiffany Leung, right, and Air Canada attendant Jane Wong helped sell raffle tickets in support of local children’s charities.

Kit Moller of Clover Towing escorted his wife Paige to the YVR for Kids benefit in Richmond.

YVR for Kids Gala