Vancouver Sun

Foster coy on lineup for next fundraisin­g concert

Foster foundation gala to raise funds for kids undergoing organ transplant­s

- DANA GEE dgee@postmedia.com twitter.com/dana_gee

You should always listen to your mother — just ask David Foster.

About 30 years ago, the musician/producer/arranger’s mother, Eleanor, told him about a young girl from Victoria who was awaiting a liver transplant in a Los Angeles hospital. She told her L.A. based son to go visit the child; not because he was famous, but because he was also from Victoria.

“She said I could offer some hometown comfort,” said Foster, who added it was that moment when he decided it was time to give back.

Now, 30 years later, the 16-time Grammy Award winner was in Vancouver to talk about the 30thannive­rsary David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala and Concert.

Each year Foster hosts and performs at a star-studded event that raises funds to support Canadian families with children undergoing life-saving organ transplant­s.

Over that time, the foundation has helped 1,000-plus families. An Order of Canada recipient, Foster says the funding has ranged from $100-$100,000, with the average being in the $10,000 range. The foundation has a record of raising anywhere from $3 million to $5 million annually, but this year Foster hopes the Vancouver event Oct. 21 at Rogers Arena, and the one he’s planning for L.A., will both come close to $10 million raised.

“I’m so happy to say we are coastto-coast-to-coast,” said Foster about the foundation’s reach.

Seven-year-old Coen Wallace, for instance, was born with bilateral hydronephr­osis. The condition required him to be on dialysis 12 hours a day. By 2012 the treatment was failing. A kidney donor was needed. Neither his parents, Tanis Burghardt nor Chris Wallace, were matches. An aunt matched, but she was on the other side of the world.

Thankfully, in 2015, after the family had been splitting time between Victoria and Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, a family friend, Don Davidson, became a living donor. Coen was at the news conference Tuesday and was running around and climbing on things like any other young boy who had to go to a news conference with a bunch of adults.

The Foster foundation was able to supply funds for the BurghardtW­allace family while Coen was being treated and throughout the kidney transplant.

“Living in Victoria meant we had to move to Vancouver for five months for pre- and posttransp­lant,” said Burghardt. “It helped with our travelling costs to Vancouver and some basic living costs while Chris and I were both off-work for two of the first three years of Coen’s life. To have had help with our financial situation during such a devastatin­g time was an incredible gift that will never be forgotten.”

Foster’s past events are lavish affairs with top-notch musical superstars from Celine Dion to Steven Tyler to Stevie Wonder taking the stage. Foster’s contact list is as long as his string of hits (he has been a part of half-a-billion in record sales). One of those likely to be called will be hometown boy Michael Buble, who, after his son’s recent bout with cancer, knows a thing or two about illness in kids. Buble has played the gala in the past, but Foster wouldn’t confirm or deny the Burnaby crooner’s attendance at the event that has 84 ten-seat tables for sale at a cost of $20,000 and $30,000. “Entertaine­rs are moving targets,” said Foster. “Anything is possible. After 30 years you can trust me.”

 ?? NICK PROCAYLO ?? Don Davidson helped save the life of Coen Wallace, 7, when he donated a kidney. The Foster foundation provided funds for Coen’s family while he was being treated.
NICK PROCAYLO Don Davidson helped save the life of Coen Wallace, 7, when he donated a kidney. The Foster foundation provided funds for Coen’s family while he was being treated.
 ??  ?? David Foster
David Foster

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada