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Czechs & Slovaks presents “The Great Ball of Eights” in support of SickKids foundation
Lisa Raffaele
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| Viezner family group - Susan, Stan, Lucie, Erika and Erika Viezner | | Last Friday evening at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York, Czechs and Slovaks held the first ever “Great Ball of Eights” fundraising event in support of SickKids foundation. The black tie affair raised $250 per person, not including the money raised from the night’s silent and live auction. The evening featured musical entertainment such as: Music by Kevin Clark’s Rhythm Section, MC Jaymz Bee from JAZZ.FM91, George Grosman’s “Music on the Corner/Muzika Na Rohu” and Kevin Clark’s Big Band.
Something about the number 8…
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| Erika Viezner | | According to Erika Viezner, member of the planning committee, Czechs and Slovaks in Canada 2008, The first ever “Great Ball of Eights” brought in a crowd of 250.
The evening was slated specifically for 2008 because of the significance of the number eight. Viezner told TRAVELHotNews. The title of the gala was inspired and commemorated the significant dates in both Czech and Slovak history that all coincidentally end in the number eight (such as 1918, 1938, 1948 and 1968).
“This is the first event of this sort in Toronto,” Viezner told TRAVELHotNews. “This was a great way for Czechs and Slovaks to represent ourselves. We have always stayed in the background, but now tourism is flowing into Canada from both Czechs and Slovaks and we have a strong presence.”
For a good cause
Amid the food and dancing was a silent auction. Jan Sebek, Committee for Auctions, Great Ball of Eights, spoke to TRAVELHotNews and informed that among the silent action prizes 50 items were donated, and 10 related to travel.
According to Sebek, “There are 30-40,000 Czechs in Canada. This event is to celebrate the success of what Czechs and Slovaks has contributed to Canada.”
Some of the prizes included: a complete cast signing of the Martin Scorsese film “Casino”, a one-day introduction to the game of polo valued at $700, partial highlights and haircut courtesy of Haartek Salon, a Muhammad Ali signed boxing glove, a signed Mats Sundin jersey, a ladies’ 14-karat white gold peridot and diamond drop earnings valued at $1,000, airfare trip via KLM Toronto-Prague-Toronto, VIA Rail first class tickets for two to Toronto-Montreal-Toronto and 2-3 night stays from 5 different hotels in Prague. The evening concluded with a live auction, which gave away seven fully paid nights in Prague.
To see all the photos from the event, visit the TRAVELHotNews.com Photo Gallery here.
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| Partygoers enjoying the first ever Ball of Eights | |
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| Partygoers enjoying the first ever Ball of Eights | |
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| Partygoers enjoying the first ever Ball of Eights | |
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| Partygoers enjoying the first ever Ball of Eights | |
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| Partygoers enjoying the first ever Ball of Eights | |
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| Partygoers enjoying the first ever Ball of Eights | |
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| Marek Viezner | |
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