BC Business
The Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland raises $500,000 at the Luminary Award Soirée and honours Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia and Sergio Cocchia
Sergio Cocchia, Crew Group of Companies president; Nancy Bradshaw, Big Sisters interim director; and Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa CEO
Over 450 guests attended Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland’s Luminary Award Soirée at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on October 27, raising more than $500,000 toward transforming the lives of 775 vulnerable girls in the Lower Mainland. The Peter & Joanne Brown Foundation presented the event, which began with a champagne reception/silent auction followed by the opening performance by Mayday Club Youth Choir.
This year’s Luminary Award went to Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia and Sergio Cocchia, founders of the Pacific Autism Family Network. The evening ended with a Little Sister testimonial and a Sponsor-A-Match live auction with Howard Blank. The Luminary Bourbon Lounge then opened for dancing to the sounds of the Famous Players Band.
The Big Sisters Luminary Award, presented annually, is intended to celebrate and honour the value and impact of mentorship in our professional and personal lives by profiling an individual or couple that stands out for one or more of the following:
• Commitment to mentorship within their industry or through public service• Founder or key contributor for a program or service that achieved significant results for girls and young women in their community• Championed community involvement in support of girls and young women’s causes
Strong consideration is given to nominees who have demonstrated leadership in their communities and networks with a specific focus on their impact in volunteerism and philanthropy.
Marley Stevens, Big Sisters program assistant and little sister for the last 15 years to her big sister Glenda Morin, Greater Vancouver Food Bank community engagement manager
Carol Robinson, gala co-chair and Harbour West Consulting owner; and Julia Hibbard, gala co-chair and Hayward Sheppard lawyer
Art Willms, retired oil executive; and Mary Ann Clark, designer
Stephanie Wong, St. Paul’s Heart Centre nurse; Julia Boyle, Big Sisters fundraising manager; and Steven Joe, Assante financial planner
Denise Fleming, Air Canada manager corporate sales; and Deborah McGill, BC Hydro corporate travel manager
Marguerite Ford, retired city councillor; and Kay Gray, Big Sisters former chair
Julia Macdonald, Crew Group of Companies executive assistant; Jenna Christenson-Barker, Pacific Autism Family Network Foundation director of adult programming; and Laura Lombardi, Pacific Autism Family Network Foundation VP
Louise Nagy, LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services director of community engagement and environmental sustainablilty; and Michelle Hings, LifeLabs director national operation support
David Young, RBC Global Asset Management infrastructure architect; and Katie Lewis, Discourse Media director of editorial products
Deana and Danny Derksen, retired
Michael Ekford, retired broadcaster; and Shanni Ekford, Kootenay Holdings COO
Susan Tomaine, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP partner and Big Sisters board chair; and Amir Moghadasi, Voestalpine Nortrak Inc. business controller and Big Sisters vice-chair
Lauren Skinner, Painted Rock Winery director of sales and marketing; Edgar Buksevics, Cushman & Wakefield associate VP; and Kyla Smith, Telus executive assistant and volunteer video producer for the Luminary gala
Jamie Brown, Canaccord Genuity Corp. vice-chair; his mother, Joanne Brown; and his wife, Christina Brown
The Mayday Club Youth Choir performs
The silent auction items