One of the best evenings of the summer kicked off before Canada Day did.
On Wednesday, June 29, not only did some of the city’s finest and most fashionable get to support an important local cause – they got a sneak peek at the Toronto’s latest and greatest rooftop hotspot.
We’re talking about the Drive for Dreams Foundation’s first fundraising event, Celebrate Basketball in The Six. And if you haven’t guessed by now, it was held at Lavelle.
The breezy evening saw 250 of the city’s movers, shakers and “ballers” joined host Jackie Redmond (Sportsnet) for an evening of beats, bids, hoops and views on Lavelle’s stunning (and totally Instagram-worthy) pool-filled terrace.
It was a pretty ballin’ affair.
If you hadn’t heard of Drive for Dreams Foundation beforehand, you definitely knew all about the organization after this fundraiser. For those in the dark, the organization has a mission to help youth from at-risk neighborhoods pursue their education and their dreams through basketball.
The evening featured speeches by Drive for Dreams current high school players Delon Jemmott and Marcus Carr, as well program graduate and Harvard Basketball star Corey Johnson – who all shared their experiences in the program, how it helped set them up for scholarships, and provided opportunities to achieve a better education.
Funds were generated through a variety of fun and interactive activities. This meant a fully-stocked silent auction (with things like signed jerseys and memorable experiences up for bid), a raffle to win courtside tickets, and a Hoops for Dreams tournament where guests were able to shoot 5 balls into a net across the rooftop pool for a chance to win a basketball singed by the entire 2016 Toronto Raptors team.
Other party perks included the sounds of deep house and garage soul by DJ Jojo Flores, a well-used GIF station, complete with basketball props.
Of course, at any given time, the well-heeled guests could also be seen capturing the breathtaking views of the city through their perpetually snapping phones (but you probably already saw all those shots on Instagram).
The evening was a major success, raising over $40,000 in support of the Drive for Dreams Foundation..
For more info about Drive for Dreams Foundation visit www.drivefordreamsfoundation.com
Sunset at Lavelle
Lavelle has a pool club membership program that is required for individual pool access. For a yearly fee, guests will be given a card valid to use seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM.
For more information about Lavelle visit www.chezlavelle.com
Photos by James Shay and Nick Lee
