Inaugural SPERANZA gala attracts about 300 people
Proceeds from Nov. 7 event still being tallied

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 25, 2015

A Vaughan non-profit organization’s inaugural gala fundraiser in support of a number of initiatives both locally and abroad attracted about 300 people.

A Touch of Love and Hope, founded by local realtors Geraldine and John Di Marco, held its debut fundraising gala, dubbed SPERANZA, at the Riviera Parque Dinning, Banquet and Convention Centre Nov. 7.

Among the hundreds of attendees at the event, billed as a Celebration of Caribbean and Italian Cultures, were MPP Laura Albanese, honorary gala Patrons Vaughan Deputy Mayor Michael Di Biase, Regional Councillor Gino Rosati and West Woodbridge Councillor Tony Carella.

Guests were treated to performances by Ballet Creole, tenor Anthony Macri and Friends as well as Bing Serrao and the Ramblers who brought the crowd to their feet.

Proceeds of the event, which are still being tallied, will go to support programs that offer life skills to mentally and physically challenged children at the Alpha Centre; projects of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Roseau in the Commonwealth of Dominica as well as heart failure research and training at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto General Hospital and the Mackenzie Health Foundation to help purchase a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner.