Angel Ball soars to new heights
Brings heavenly inspiration and hope for cancer patients and their loved ones
The Jewish General Hospital Foundation’s elegant, black-tie Angel Ball gala, honouring Susan Wener, was held on November 5, 2009 at the Marché Bonsecours.
Chaired by Jonathan Wener, with honorary Co-Chairs L. Denis Desautels, C.M., Michèle Dionne, the Honorable E. Leo Kolber, O.C., Sheila Kussner, O.C., O.Q., Jacques Ménard, O.C. and Heather Munroe-Blum, O.C., Ph.D., F.R.S.C., the event attracted more than 450 of Montreal’s leading philanthropists, business and community leaders. Guests included Quebec Premier Jean Charest; Lawrence Bergman, MNA for D’Arcy McGee and President of the government caucus; and Michel Leblanc, President of the Montreal Board of Trade.
A 25 foot high, beautifully decorated “willow tree” greeted the guests as they entered the candle lit cocktail room. On both sides of the striking white glass bar at the back of the room, continuous pictures of Natalie Ann Toussaint Angelopoulos, for whom the Angel Ball was created, and of the Jewish General Hospital were displayed. Between these screens, a harpist, dressed in a long, white flowing gown strummed on a mini harp.
Costumed drummers and dancers gleefully performed as they transferred the guests from the cocktail room to the exquisitely decorated Ball Room for a truly magical and unforgettable evening filled with emotion, superb dining, and dancing to the fun, upbeat music performed by the Dawn Tyler Watson Band.
David Snively shared his love and adoration and paid a beautiful homage to the memory of his friend Natalie Ann Toussaint Angelopoulos. The tribute video to Susan Wener, accompanied by live music including a cello, piano and violin, with words shared by Jonathan, Ali, Jacqueline and Catherine Wener, was emotional, heart-warming and moving. A standing ovation erupted, then the room became silent, as the crowd listened attentively to Susan, the angel honouree and highlight of the evening.
“In successfully waging her own personal struggle with cancer, Susan Wener, the 2009 Angel Ball honouree, embodies qualities of courage, strength and commitment that serve as an inspiration to us all. As an educator and dedicated volunteer, Susan draws on a diverse array of innovative therapies in her determination to make a real difference in the lives of those living with cancer. In so doing, she has focused on the needs of patients, thereby embracing the ideals and values that have sustained the Jewish General Hospital for three-quarters of a century.”
Bernard Stotland, FCA, President of the JGH
Dr. Hartley Stern, Executive Director of the JGH
As the evening drew to a close, guests departed with the feeling that it was truly a spectacular, inspirational and momentous event – one they felt proud to have been a part of and to have supported. Congratulations again to Susan Wener and the entire Wener family!
♦ ♦ ♦
The third edition of the Angel Ball was another tremendous success, raising over $ 1 million in support of the Segal Cancer Centre as well as of the special educational programs championed by Susan Wener, which aim to help patients cope more easily with the physical and emotional stresses of their illness.
We wish to thank the many people who attended, supported, donated,or volunteered for the 2009 Angel Ball and contributed to its huge success; in particular, our major sponsors and donors as well the event’s producer, Michael Caplan and the members of the Sponsorhip Team – Kathy R. Assayag, Dr. Rubin Becker, Steven Cummings, C.M., Brenda Gewurz, Diane Guerrera, Harvey Levenson, Elliot Lifson, and Richard Renaud, FCA.
MAJOR SPONSORS
Guardian Angels
Groupe Aldo
Leanor and Alvin Segal and Family
Power Corporation of Canada
Archangels
BMO Capital Markets
The Cummings and Gold Families
Carolyn and Richard Renaud
Angels
Britton Electric
Broccolini Construction Inc.
Claudine & Stephen Bronfman
Gewurz Family
Rosalind and Morris Goodman
JGH Auxiliary
Hon. E. Leo Kolber & Roni Gandell
McMillan Barbara & Douglas Pascal
Remer Group Inc.
Sajo Construction
Scotiabank
Jim Stein
Susan and Jonathan Wener
MAJOR DONORS
“Gifts from Heaven”
Anonymous
Laurentian Bank
Gerald Bernstein
Linda and Tom Birks and Family
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Conglom Inc.
Cons and Cola Families
Dalfen's Ltd.
Ernst & Young LLP
Future Electronics
Metro Richelieu Inc.
Reitmans (Canada) Limited
RSM Richter Chamberland
Pauline and Jeff Segel
Angels
Anonymous
Joelle Berdugo Adler
Renette and David Berman
Tracy and Marc Bibeau
Marjorie and Gerald Bronfman Foundation
Brownstein Family
Barbara and Douglas Cohen
Deans Knight Capital Management
DIVCO Limited
Elaine and Richard Dubrovsky
Penny and Gordon Echenberg
Bina and Leonard Ellen
Aaron and Wally Fish
David Forest
Beryl and Peter Fraenkel
Phyllis and Lou Gordon
Pascale and Jack Hasen
Sherri and Gerald Issenman
Terry and Stephen Kaplan
Alta and Harvey Levenson
Hedy and Julius Lis
Gail & Alan Marcovitz
Adria and Jeff Mandel
Bonnie and Paul Ostrov
The Paperman Family
RBC Capital Markets Real Estate Group
Marilyn and Harvey Rosenbloom
Janice and Mark Sherman
SDK and Associates
Johanne and Norman Sternthal
Merle & Bernard Stotland
Heleena and Edward Wiltzer
|
→ View the videos of Susan’s tribute and of her speech |
The Angel Ball was created to celebrate the life of its namesake, Natalie Ann Toussaint Angelopoulos, who lost her battle with inflammatory breast cancer at the young age of 40. Established in 2003, her memorial fund was created to provide financial support and funding for research and patient care, and ultimately assist in the fight to eradicate cancer as a life-threatening disease.
