BEWITCHING hospital benefit gala draws 275 at the Château Vaudreuil and raises $420,000.

Kidney Foundation gala inspired by India; men honoured for their work with victims of violence

Some enchanted evening: One of the season’s most bewitching benefit galas, the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation’s 12th Annual Lakeshore Ball, spun its magic yet again at beautiful Château Vaudreuil, drawing an elite crowd of 275. Among the headiest highlights were a multicourse gourmet feast; superb silent and live auctions (the latter culminating in two bidders winning an extravagant VIP dinner for 14 and a night’s stay in the Château’s presidential suite); raffle of big bling thanks to Hemsleys Jewellers; fireworks; and non-stop dancing to Paul Chacra and the 1945 Orchestra. Not surprisingly, supporters were of the highest profile and included: MNA Geoffrey Kelley; MP Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe; hockey broadcast legend Dick Irvin Jr.; mayors Bill McMurchie, David Pollock, John Meaney and Monique Worth; honorary chair Benito Migliorati; and esteemed copresidents Giuseppe Borsellino, Joseph Broccolini, Andy Chelminski, William R. Ferguson, Charles Hammer, Cyril Schiever, Mario Levasseur, Tom Little, Ginette Latreille, Luc Maurice, Ron Mehra, Giuseppe Monticciolo, Michel Poirier, Pierre Spinelli, Dale Weil, Yvon Théorêt, Tony Loffreda, and Louise R. and Lorne Trottier. The enchanter raised $420,000 plus toward the purchase of much-needed equipment for the hospital.

Bollywood Dreams: If you tune into Social Notes regularly, you know that a rather popular party theme this season is India. In this instance, however, organizers of the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Annual Gala at the Windsor Ballrooms were specifically inspired by India’s glittering entertainment industry. And what a job they did; the decor and florals were an exquisite homage to the bright and beautiful hues routinely associated with Bollywood, while members of Bollywood Blast (a Quebec-based entertainment company that has collaborated with the likes of Cirque du Soleil) dazzled and delighted. Most importantly, though, the spirited soirée raised sizable funds for the foundation and presented the 2012 Founder’s Award to the many devoted volunteers and organizers of the Kidney Kids Camp, a summer respite for youths aged 8-18 who are either on dialysis or have had a kidney transplant. (Thanks to the meticulous supervision of volunteer medical teams from the Sainte-Justine and Montreal Children’s Hospitals, campers are able to spend a week at the camp during treatment, enjoying a variety of summer activities.) Hats off to these volunteers, as well as the 2012 gala’s organizing team, topped by: campaign chairman Luciano D’Ignazio, a partner at Schwartz Levitsky Feldman; honorary president and RBC Royal Bank royal Tony Loffreda; event co-chairs Colleen Wicha and Karen Kear-Jodoin; and committee members Howard Levine, Salvatore Santangelo, Roberto Catalogna, Norma Passaretti, Claude Jodoin, Perany Hassan and Linda Pellas.

Let’s hear it for the men: For the past 18 years, the Shield of Athena, Montreal’s only multicultural network of services for victims of family violence, has held its annual fundraising auction to rave reviews. This year’s edition at Bonsecours market was no exception, attracting more than 400 patrons. Many bid enthusiastically for auction items in support of the cause, including autographed howckey memorabilia generously donated by former Montreal Canadien Chris Nilan. Speaking of Chris Nilan, he also happened to be the evening’s special patron and spoke movingly about the plight of children exposed to family violence. Finally, if you’re wondering about the opening teaser here, wonder no more. The theme of this year’s benefit, presented under the patronage of Greece Consul General Orestis Kafopoulos, was “men can make a difference.” In their honour, the Shield’s Recognition Award was presented to two organizations headed by men — the Hellenic Appeal and the Montreal Hellenic Golfers Association — for their outstanding support of single mothers and their children exposed to violence. The special benefit eve generated just shy of $105,000.

For more pix and scoop re: this event and others, head to diaryofasocialgal.com. The party never ends!

DK PHOTO Dance fever: Guests packed the dance floor at the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation´s 12th Annual Lakeshore Ball.

DK PHOTO Glam fun: Michelle Le Donne, Christiane Badaoui, Natalie Lason, Teresa Ciarla, foundation president Silvana Orrino, emcee Lori Graham, Andreana Czurma and Luigi Castelli, kneeling, enjoy festivities at the LGH Foundation’s ball, at the Château Vaudreuil.

DK PHOTO Let them eat cake: Honorary chair Benito Migliorati cuts the cake while co-presidents look on at the LGH Foundation’s ball.

LAWRENCE CLEMEN Making a difference: Campaign chair Luciano D´Ignazio, front left, and honorary president Tony Loffreda stand proud with the 2012 Founder´s Award recipients — the Kidney Kids Camp volunteers and organizers — at the Kidney Foundation’s gala.

LAWRENCE CLEMEN Wow factor: Members of Bollywood Blast dazzle at the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Annual Gala, Bollywood Dreams.

LAWRENCE CLEMEN Belles of the ball: Co-chairs Colleen Wicha and Karen Kear-Jodoin embrace the theme at the Kidney Foundation gala.

POLLY TSONIS People power: Consul General of Greece Orestis Kafopoulos, left, with the Shield of Athena’s co-ordinator Maud Pontel and executive director Melpa Kamateros at the organization’s fundraising auction.

POLLY TSONIS Picture perfect: Shield president Eleni Bakopanos, artist Marina Gavanski Zissis, special patron Chris Nilan and Jaime Holtz at the Shield of Athena´s auction.

Best men: Shield president Eleni Bakopanos honours the Hellenic Appeal’s Peter Limniatis and the Montreal Hellenic Golfers Association’s George Cocolakis.