Local developers fork out $310K to dine with Vaughan mayor

Yorkregion.com
June 26, 2014
Adam Martin-Robbins

It’s been auctioned off four times now, but dinner with Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua still commands top dollar.

A group, primarily made up of real estate development and construction magnates, collectively bid $310,000 during a live auction at the Mayor’s Gala Tuesday night for a 10-course meal with Bevilacqua at Via Allegro.

The money goes to support the fundraising campaign for Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.

Those contributing to the winning bid included: Silvio and Carlo DeGasperis of TACC Construction; Benny Marotta of Solmar Development Corp.; Rudy Bratty of Remington Group; Fred Darvish of Liberty Developments; Lou Greenbaum of Vogue Development Group; Peter Cipriano of Gold Park Group; Mario Cortellucci of Cortel Group; Jack Eisenberger of Fieldgate Homes; Eddie Weisz of Paradise Homes; Izzie Abrams of Progressive Waste Solutions and; Joe Maio and Claudio Memme of Maystar General Contractors, whose firm received a multi-million dollar payout from the municipality last year to settle a lawsuit related to the construction of city hall.

Dinner with the mayor last year fetched $300,000, thanks to a $150,000 bid by Carlo Baldassarra of Greenpark Homes that was matched by Frank Carogioiello of Royal Pine Homes.

Hundreds of people attended Tuesday’s gala at the Paramount Conference and Event Venue including Vaughan Liberal MPP Steven Del Duca, Vaughan Conservative MP Julian Fantino, Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa and all eight city councillors.

Along with the auction, attendees were also treated to a cocktail reception, a three-course dinner and a performance by Juno-award winning singer-songwriter Serena Ryder.

And they got to take home a hardcover notebook, featuring a poem by Bevilacqua, dubbed Life by MB, on the first page.

The fourth annual gala, whose theme was The Next Chapter, is expected to raise more than $500,000.

“The Next Chapter is actually the evolution of the city; a city that prides itself on the spirit of generosity,” Bevilacqua said. “Tonight is yet another example of what can be achieved when we pull our resources together. Over 100 organizations in the city have benefitted from the Mayor’s Gala.” 

To date, the event, largely sponsored by development and construction firms, has raised more than $2 million, which goes to support the hospital as well as local non-profit and community organizations.