BC Business
More than 600 guests attended the sold-out Arts Umbrella Splash gala on November 3 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Presented by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and TD, the event raised a record-breaking $430,000 for accessible art education for young people throughout Greater Vancouver.
The evening began with a champagne reception and an opportunity to bid on silent auction items, while the live auction had patrons bid on approximately 200 pieces created by prominent B.C.-based artists including Gordon Smith, Paul Wong and Bobbie Burgers. CBC’s Gloria Macarenko and Fred Lee emceed the gala.
Over the course of Splash’s 34 successful years, Arts Umbrella has raised more than $5.5 million in net proceeds to support programs that make a positive difference in young lives. Because art can change children’s lives, Arts Umbrella helps young artists cultivate creativity and grow self-confidence through dance, theatre and visual arts. Since 1979, the not-for-profit has opened the door to all kids ages two to 19 to find and explore their artistic voices. More than 20,000 students discover the magic each year, with more than half participating at little to no cost to their families.
Paul Larocque, Arts Umbrella president and CEO; and Michael Lee, Arts Umbrella board chair
Enrique Manchon, contributing artist; and his wife, Gloria Macarenko, CBC host and gala emcee
Elpie Marinakis, Wedgewood Hotel co-owner and managing director; and Athena Bax, contributing artist and Project Baby Bird campaign founder
Carol Henriquez, Arts Umbrella co-founder and honourary chair; and Dana Montalbano, Arts Umbrella board member
Nicole Harvie, Hello magazine correspondent; Leah Gauthier, casting producer; and Aimee Williams, Mission Hill Family Estate partnership manager
Live auction artist Paul Wong
Trudy Pekarsky, Arts Umbrella former chair and board member; and her husband Dan Pekarsky, financial consultant
Blair Da Costa, Vancouver Police constable; and Melissa De Genova, City of Vancouver councillor
Kirsten Mihailides, KMPR owner and Arts Umbrella board member; and Joy Jennissen, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada chief client officer
Shannon Belkin, contributing artist; and Alan Jones, technical specialist
Madeleine Thompson, Avenue PR account co-ordinator; and Gemma Bishop, Avenue PR senior account manager
Shannon Heth-Vergette, Milk Creative Communications president stands by her husband George Vergette’s art up for auction; and Kim Peacock, K2 Strategies principal
Vancouver Aquarium’s Night at the Aquarium Committee co-chairs Bert Hick, Rising Tide Consultants founder; and Tina Rowntree
Jamesie Bower, Staff Systems principal; and John Evans, Trilogy Group of Companies president
Gala emcees Gloria Macarenko, CBC host; and Fred Lee, CBC’s man-about-town
Jeffrey Merrick, SPLASH co-chair and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP partner makes opening remarks
The Arts Umbrella Splash gala
Arts Umbrella Dance Company students prepare to perform