SnowBall 2009 | Love & Devotion
THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING YOUR LOVE & DEVOTION AT SNOWBALL 2009!A little naughty, a little daring and like winter in Toronto, totally unpredictable!
Read about The Casey Awards 2009, presented at SnowBall
 |
 |
 |
On February 28, 2009, Casey House’s SnowBall 2009 | Love & Devotion, presented by BMO Financial Group, ignited The Fairmont Royal York with a very special evening celebrating the 21st anniversary of Casey House. Co-Chairs John R. Fortney and Brian Dalfen (pictured above, with presenting sponsor BMO's Nada Ristich), Casey Awards Chair Pearse Murray and Casey House Board Chair Sandra Cruickshanks welcomed a crowd of over 500 attendees. Over $270,000 was raised in support of Casey House community programs.
 |
 |
Décor go-to gurus theideashop, Platinum Sponsors for the evening, wowed attendees by transforming the Canadian Room at the Fairmont Royal York into a wintry wonderland. Crystalline structures glinted across ceilings, astounding paper flowers bloomed across doorways, and a glowing ice-blue bar welcomed guests for specially designed cocktails provided by Gold Sponsors Polar Ice Vodka and Wyndham Estates.
Statuesque drag queens and their white tuxedo-clad paramours greeted guests on arrival. The acclaimed dance troupe Hit and Run flitted like snowflakes amongst the crowd before dazzling all with an avant-garde take on Swan Lake.
 |
 |
Guests then moved into the Ontario Room where Juno-nominated ambient musicians Eccodek performed during a lavish dinner. The eclectic gourmet menu included a heart adorning every dish, to remind all of the love and devotion demonstrated every day at Casey House.
The presentations of The Casey Awards took place at dinner’s close. Created in loving memory of one of Casey House’s founders June Callwood, the awards celebrate and recognize leadership in the fields of HIV/AIDS and social justice. Attendees watched short video documentaries celebrating the work of this year’s recipients Richard Burzynski, Jim Shea and Dr. Jane Philpott (read bios and watch videos here). The room erupted into standing ovations for the recipients’ exemplary leadership.
Then smoking-hot R&B diva Divine Brown hit the stage with a heart-felt performance, followed by the music stylings of DJ Shane Percy, who kept the dance floor packed until the wee hours.
 |
 |
The evening also included a lavish silent auction that included hotly-contested items such as celebrity-chef catered private functions, high-end décor items and romantic travel packages.
Once again, Casey House’s annual SnowBall presented a fabulous opportunity to let loose, mix and mingle with Toronto’s most influential in the worlds of art, media, politics and business. But above all, SnowBall is a yearly occasion to celebrate and support the love and devotion that is alive at Casey House every day.
Casey House extends its deep thanks to the many committee members and volunteers, sponsors and staff, as well as attendees and silent auction donors who made this important fundraising event possible in paying tribute to the extraordinary difference Casey House makes in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Event photos courtesy of Glenn Bell, Scott MacQuarrie, Roman Kliotzkin and Perry Blocher.
| Presenting Sponsor: |
 |
| Platinum Sponsor: |
Gold Sponsor: | |
 |
 | |
| Silver Sponsor: |
Presenting Print Sponsor: | |
 |
 |