Play schools were built, speeches made, lively conversations had – and enough money raised to give over 7000 children an education they would never have had.
imagine1day’s gala – returning for the second year – has again proved a tremendous success.
Held last Friday at the home of our founders, Chip and Shannon Wilson, the evening brought together 103 people from Vancouver and beyond to share in a fun and informative evening.
imagine1day Program Coordinator Halefom Gezaei plays a traditional Ethiopian drum song.
Guests were welcomed with the sound of authentic Ethiopian drumming – played by Halefom Gezaei, our Program Coordinator in Northern Ethiopia, who was in town to learn more about the Canadian education system.
They took their seats in an outdoor tent, illuminated with the sights and sounds of our activities in Ethiopia, from school inaugurations to classroom lessons.
It was an active evening, as guests switched seats throughout the three-course Ethiopian-inspired dinner. They engaged in fun, informative activities and heard from our founders and staff, who talked about the importance of leadership and self-determination to transform communities, teachers and schools.
As the night drew to a close, the final tally was calculated. Our guests had given a truly impressive $340,000.
This amount will be matched by our partners Educate a Child, and it means we can enroll 7,321 out of school children into education. This is truly transformative on a massive scale.
Chip and Shannon Wilson are also matching donations with a contribution to operating costs, ensuring 100% of all these donations go towards our activities on the ground in Ethiopia.
Thank you to everyone who attended or made a donation.
Guests switch seats as part of an active and informative imagine1day gala.
A special thanks to all of our partners – Nicola Wealth Management, Faith Wilson Group, and Mission Hill Winery – and the amazing volunteers who made this evening so incredibly special for our team, for the guests in attendance, and for the children and communities whose lives will be transformed by the money raised on the night.
Finally, we thank Chip and Shannon Wilson, who once again welcomed guests into their beautiful home. Their vision for a better world serves as the catalyst for imagine1day, and generosity made this very unique and innovative fundraising event possible.