Philanthropy

Photos: St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Brilliant! 2015

By Oliver Lam /

Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Brilliant! co-chairs Jana and Bill Maclagan
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Fiona Forbes, TV host/producer and Brilliant! 2015 gala emcee; and Dean Thullner, Brilliant! event producer
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Don Kasian, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation chair, and president, Kasian Architecture Interior Design; Gillian Horvath; and Brilliant! gala models
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Dr. Steve Mathias, child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia Department of Psychiatry; and Dr. Bill MacEwan, clinical professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of British Col
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Vivien Ng; and Leon Ng, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Young Leader
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Lindsay Nahmiache, co-founder and partner of Jive Communications, and St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Young Leader; and Carolyn Tuckwell, president and CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Ludovic Siouffi, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Young Leader; and Newsha Siouffi, operations manager, Community Member Services at Vancity
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Oonagh Burns, director of information services, ICBC; David Poole, board chair, Providence Health Care; and Dr. Steve Mathias, child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia Department of Psychiatr
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Brilliant! performers reinterpret the fairy tale Snow White
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation



Robin Hood re-imagined through fashion and dance
Donna Yasmeen; and Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation


Brilliant! 2015 raises over $1.45 million with all proceeds going towards St. Paul’s Hospital mental health and addiction programs

Presented by St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation’s Young Leaders—a group of young professionals working together to make a difference in the community, and raise awareness and support for the innovative programs and ground-breaking research at St. Paul’s Hospital—the Brilliant! gala raises funds to support much-needed diagnostic and treatment services.

This year, 300 local designers, hairstylists, make-up artists, models and dancers volunteered their time and talents to treat the 900 attendees to an unforgettable evening where classic fairy tales were reinterpreted through fashion and dance. From Little Red Riding Hood to Snow White to Frog Prince to Robin Hood, the all-star cast brought these beloved stories to life on the historic Commodore Ballroom stage. This display of artistic brilliance was bookended by a live auction, led by esteemed auctioneer Howard Blank, and a night of dancing to a set by DJ Leanne.

The evening of many memorable moments was capped off when gala emcee Fiona Forbes took to the stage and announced that this year’s event had raised over $1.45 million—a record-breaking amount that will all go towards St. Paul’s efforts in treating and transitioning thousands of mental health and addiction patients each year.

“The astounding proceeds from Brilliant! 2015 will truly benefit mental health and addiction programs, and directly impact the patients that come through St. Paul’s doors,” said Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. “With visits due to mental illness and addiction continuously increasing at St. Paul’s, donor support continues to be critical to our mental health and addiction diagnostic and treatment services.”

Now in its third year, Brilliant! has raised a rolling total of $2,050,000 over the past three years, supporting St. Paul’s aim of being not just the first stop, but the best stop on the journey to wellness for patients with mental health and addiction issues.

To find out how you can support the cause visit brilliant.helpstpauls.com.