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About Town: World Housing House Party – Change the Rules for Girls 2020 fundraiser

World Housing House Party, Change the Rules for Girls' inaugural fundraising event, attracted more than 150 guests and VIPs to the Livingspace showroom in Vancouver. Celebrating philanthropy and innovation, the gathering raised more than $480,000 for the Girls 2 Grannies project in Cambodia...

By Paul Duchart /

Credit: Paul Duchart
Scott Neeson, founder, Cambodian Children’s Fund; Heuv Nhanh, filmmaker and former Cambodian Children’s Fund student; and Don McQuaid, managing director, World Housing

The first benefit for the non-profit’s initiative raised almost $500,000 for a Cambodian housing project

World Housing House Party, Change the Rules for Girls’ inaugural fundraising event, attracted more than 150 guests and VIPs to the Livingspace showroom in Vancouver. Celebrating philanthropy and innovation, the gathering raised more than $480,000 for the Girls 2 Grannies project in Cambodia.

Cambodian Children’s Fund founder Scott Neeson took to the stage along with World Housing co-founders Sid Landolt and Peter Dupuis to tell their stories and share a touching video presentation. Capping the evening was surprise guest Heuv Nhanh, a filmmaker and former Cambodian Children’s Fund student who met Neeson 15 years ago as a child living in the Steung Meanchey garbage dump in Phnom Penh.  

World Housing is a non-profit social enterprise and charity in Canada and the U.S. So far, it has funded some 700 homes, providing shelter for more than 3,500 people in six countries. World Housing works with forward-thinking businesses to maximize the potential of collective social impact. All money from its fundraising efforts goes toward building homes.

Since World Housing launched its partnership with the Cambodian Children’s Fund in 2013, the impact has been remarkable. More than 2,300 people in the communities surrounding the Steung Meanchey dump now have a safe and secure living environment, thanks to the 460 houses that have been built.

The goal of World Housing’s Girls 2 Grannies Village is to construct a holistic community based on the non-profit’s model of sustainability. The village will offer a safe home and place of supportive mentorship for grandmothers, mothers, and abandoned or orphaned girls. Its 50 homes will accommodate about 200 women from age two to 102.

Credit: Paul Duchart
Jordan Kallman and Tyson Villeneuve, owners, The Social Concierge

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Brock Dorward, owner Aspen Developments; and Natalie Marchildon, owner, Passion for Design

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Tanja Gardiner, artist; and Greg Thomas, president, Regal Resources

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Peggy Lalor, entrepreneur; Jim Laing, construction specialist, FirstOnSite Restoration; and Erin Mulhern, realtor

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Jordan Sidoo; David Sidoo, investment banker; his wife, Manjy Sidoo; Richard Bell, partner, Bell Alliance; and Peter Espig, investment banker

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Quinn Bonetti; and Christina Valagao, marketing director, Gourmet Warehouse

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Sam Whiffin, managing director, Livingspace Homes; Scott Neeson, founder, Cambodian Children’s Fund; Ross Bonetti, owner, Livingspace; and Don McQuaid, managing director, World Housing, pose by a show home for the Girls 2 Grannies Village

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Interior of the Girls 2 Grannies Village show home

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The World Housing House Party 2020 in full swing

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Alano Edzerza, business development consultant, Tahltan Nation; and Dave Hamilton, owner, Dave Hamilton Photography

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Elyse Meloche, donor experience and event management, World Housing; and Francesca Whiffin, office manager, Livingspace Homes 

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Meliza Polvorosa, principal, Polvorosa Design Studio; Nora Szeleczky, director, Armani Casa; Aleem Kassam, partner and designer, Kalu Interiors; and Victor Kazakov, software developer

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$200,000 donor Dave Mann, owner, Isle of Mann Property Group; and Jason Sarai, owner, Style by Sarai 

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Don McQuaid, managing director, World Housing; and Richard Bell, partner, Bell Alliance

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Peter Dupuis welcomes fellow World Housing co-founder Sid Landolt; Ross Bonnetti, owner, Livingspace; and Sam Whiffin, managing director, Livingspace Homes, to the stage

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Peter Dupuis and Sid Landolt, co-founders, World Housing

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Scott Neeson, founder, Cambodian Children’s Fund, addresses the crowd

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Scott Neeson, founder, Cambodian Children’s Fund; and Heuv Nhanh, filmmaker and former Cambodian Children’s Fund former student

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Scott Neeson, founder, Cambodian Children’s Fund; and Heuv Nhanh, filmmaker and former Cambodian Children’s Fund former student, with the homes that have been built in Cambodia

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Scott Neeson, Cambodian Children’s Fund founder and Heuv Nhanh, Cambodian Children’s Fund former student and filmmaker. Neeson met Nhanh 15 years ago and changed his life

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Don McQuaid, managing director, World Housing; and $200,000 donor Dave Mann, owner, Isle of Mann Property Group

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The welcome cocktail

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World Housing poster