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This season, charity events have received incredible windfalls and shattered fundraising records thanks to donated Taylor Swift tickets on the auction block.
Taylor Swift’s epic Eras tour, which concludes in Vancouver, hasn’t just benefited local Swifties—it’s been a boon for local charities. Thanks to the generosity of community initiatives by PavCo, which operates BC Place, and RBC, who is a corporate partner, local charities have been auctioning off donated tickets to Swift’s three performances in the city. These tickets have garnered up to $44,000 for a pair and $320,000 for a 15-person, private suite. Four donated suites have resulted in more than $1 million collected for local charities. The tour which kicked off in Glendale, Arizona, almost two years ago will conclude here in Lotusland on Sunday, December 8.
Escorted by her husband, Madison Venture Corp CEO John Delucchi, Crystal Ball gala chair Irene Delucchi saw nearly 400 guests raise $4.4 million for BC Children’s Hospital and its Clinical Super Hub initiative. A 15-person suite to the Friday night Swift concert sold for a whopping $290,000.
BC Place general manager Chris May, left, with BC Children’s Hospital champion Lawrence Thiessen. May donated suites and concert tickets to all three Taylor Swift concerts as part of its Community Benefit Program.
Gift of Time gala chairs Victoria Emslie, Shalina Lawrence and Michelle Porter saw an impressive $1.63 million raised for Canucks Place Children’s Hospice. The tally was bolstered by two pairs of tickets to a Taylor Swift Vancouver concert that sold for $46,000.
Yours truly along with Global TV’s Sonia Sunger presided over the 20th Gift of Time Gala, sponsored by Nicola Wealth. More than 350 guests took in the evening in support of BC’s pediatric palliative care provider.
Music Heals founder David Barnett welcomed artists BBNo$, Bif Naked and headliner CeeLo Green to the Commodore Ballroom for his annual concert fundraiser. Coveted Taylor Swift tickets helped the charity raise a record-breaking $450,000 for music therapy programs in B.C. and catapulted the fundraiser’s lifetime tally beyond the $3 million mark.
Canada Wide’s Anicka Quinn and Ryan Benn and RBC’s Martin Thibodeau were among business leaders that took in the charity concert at Music Heals.
Music Heals sponsors Gary Zlotnik of ZLC Financial, and his partner, artist Jolinda Linden, picked up their Taylor Swift concert tickets at Arts Umbrella’s Splash Gala, which earned a remarkable $1.75 million.
Emergency physician Dr. Richard Chan and Richmond Hospital foundation CEO Natalie Meixner also saw their Starlight Gala benefit from the Taylor Swift effect. The priceless pair of lower bowl tickets garnered $17,000, contributing to a record-setting $1.39 million night.
Community leaders Patsy and Hilary Hui sparkplugged the night of giving by matching the first $350,000. Proceeds from the massive night of giving will fully support a new mental health campaign at Richmond Hospital.
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation led by Sam Feldman and Carol Lee was also a beneficiary of Taylor Swift tickets. The two sets of four tickets sold for $25,000 each, adding $50,000 to the fundraising total.
Lily Lee celebrated her 90th birthday with Anson Realty’s Grace Kwok and 750 Vancouver Chinatown Foundation Autumn Gala attendees. Over $1 million was raised in aid of revitalization efforts in Chinatown.
Smaller events like the Dr. Peter Centre’s Passions Gala also benefitted from PavCo’s charitable program. Joel Smith and Darcy Greiner successfully picked up a pair of tickets to the Saturday night concert for $13.000.
Chef Quang Dang joined emcee Sophie Lui and the city’s top chefs and restaurants for the 21st staging of the gastronomic gala presented by RBC. They helped the foodie fete achieve a new fundraising standard of $225,000. Proceeds benefit the Centre’s food security program.
As a surprise for their daughter, Jill Arias and her husband Keith Neumeyer successfully purchased one of the first suites offered at the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Ball in April. Sold for $125,000, it was a relative steal compared what other suites garnered at auction. Suites sold for $260,000 and $320,000 at the Victoria Hospital and UBC +VGH Hospital Foundation fundraisers respectively.
Community champions Barry and Laurie Cavanaugh purchased the final BC Place suite for $290,000. Proceeds benefitted BC Children’s Hospital.
