CANFAR launches Bloor Street Entertains Campaign: “Becoming Family”
Toronto – The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) will hold the 23rd edition of its largest fundraising event, Bloor Street Entertains on November 27th in Toronto, presented by returning Signature Partner BMO.
To celebrate the long-standing tradition that is Bloor Street Entertains and to highlight its important role in the city, CANFAR is unveiling a campaign under the theme Becoming Family which will further extend the event’s reach and its contribution to CANFAR’s mission. CANFAR is also announcing the creation of the Bloor Street Entertains Campaign to help increase its support for innovative HIV/AIDS research beyond the night of the event and reach its goal of ending the HIV epidemic in Canada within 5 years.
Ahead of our 25th anniversary coming up in 2021, we want to celebrate the community that rallies around and for Bloor Street Entertains year after year. Our theme, Becoming Family reminds us that inclusivity, support, love and cooperation are key in our fight against HIV. The Bloor Street Entertains family is comprised of our guests and patrons, sponsors, volunteers, venue partners, CANFAR ambassadors and more – this year, we want to highlight their contribution and remind the Toronto community that our common goal of ending the HIV epidemic in Canada needs to remain a priority. We invite everyone to join our efforts by purchasing tickets to attend the event on November 27th; or donating directly to the newly created Bloor Street Entertains Campaign.”
CANFAR is kicking off its #BECOMINGFAMILY campaign this week with a series of video testimonials featuring members of the Bloor Street Entertains community shared across social platforms, aiming to ignite the spirit of cooperation that is key in the fight against HIV.
On November 27, 2019, guests attending Bloor Street Entertains will enjoy fine dining provided by the city’s top chefs at prestigious fashion houses and other signature venues around the Bloor-Yorkville area and they will end the night on a high note at the official after-party held at The Four Seasons Hotel. They will also be invited to take part in the event’s remarkable and prestigious silent auction. The auction will open ahead of the event on November 20th and will close on November 28th at noon. 2019 Auction Partners include Delta Airlines, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, The Hazelton Hotel Toronto, the Vienna Tourism Board, The Rosewood London, The Balmoral Hotel, Edenborough, The Raptors, The Room at Hudson Bay Co., Mulberry, Rimowa, MCM, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Dior, Versace, Tiffany, Holt Renfrew, Christopher Bates, Out Here Toronto, artists Jane Waterus and Pietro Adamo, Peter Trintos and Michelle Vella.
This year’s Bloor Street Entertains event is chaired by mother-daughter duo Vonna Bitove and Jenna Naumovich-Freda as well as Honourary Chairs Bernadette Morra and Jimmy Molloy; we are extremely honoured to have them join our team to help make our 2019 edition a resounding success. Vonna and Jenna are the best representation of our theme, Becoming Family we could ask for.”
The 2019 Bloor Street Entertains committee is comprised of Vonna Bitove and Jenna Naumovich Freda, Chad Brincheski, Candice Chan, Eva Hartling, Paulo Leone, Sylvia Mantella, Rui Mateus Amaral, Jimmy Molloy, Bernadette Morra, Candice Sinclair, Alison Slight, Mary Symons and Mary Jean Tully.
About CANFAR
CANFAR’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in Canada by funding innovative research, and awareness programs focused on increasing prevention, increasing testing, improving treatment and care, and ending HIV stigma. Over its 30-year history, CANFAR has invested more than $22 million and awarded more than 400 grants across Canada in research addressing all aspects of HIV/AIDS.
About HIV in Canada
Over 65,000 people in Canada are living with HIV and on average, 6 people newly acquire HIV every 24 hours in our country.