- 注册
- 2002-10-07
- 消息
- 402,197
- 荣誉分数
- 76
- 声望点数
- 0
It happened so quickly, and with such emphatic support. In a heartbeat, we might even say, $380,000 was raised for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute at this year’s sold-out Gold Plate Dinner, held Tuesday at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre.
Driving the generosity was a business crowd of 575, along with philanthropist Peter Foustanellas from title sponsor Argos Carpets and Flooring and Olympia Homes.
This year’s event was particularly memorable, marking the final dinner for its chair of 30 years, Steve Ramphos, co-founder and president of District Realty. Gold Plate has raised almost $2 million for the community over the years, with the main beneficiaries being the Heart Institute and Hellenic Community of Ottawa.
Ramphos spoke fondly of the Heart Institute as the world-class facility that holds a special place in his heart. He also took a few minutes to thank those people who’ve been so involved with the dinner.
With matching funds from philanthropist Peter Foustanellas, a crowd of 575 raised $630,000 for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute at this year's sold-out Gold Plate Dinner, held June 9 at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre.
“I will always cherish the last 30 years of Gold Plate, especially the special relationships I have developed with everyone in this room,” Ramphos said on stage. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued support and your love.”
Morning show radio host and Ottawa Senators PA announcer “Stuntman Stu” Schwartz is famous in this town for auctioning off vacations, hockey tickets and dinner packages during charity galas. Not this time. Instead, he led Ottawa’s first-ever “un-auction.” He asked the crowd — made up of some of the region’s biggest Heart Institute supporters — to donate $5,000 to the newly created Steve Ramphos Fund at the cardiovascular centre.
Hands shot up in the air and the number climbed to $100,000. But, there was an added twist: all the donations were matched by Foustanellas. (He’s currently hospitalized but got a special pass from doctors to attend the fundraiser.)
Within five minutes, the total hit a quarter of a million and was at $380,000 by next morning. An additional $250,00 was raised for the Hellenic Community’s religious and cultural programs. The dinner ended up netting (yes, netting!) $630,000.
Among those to attend from the Heart Institute were its president and CEO, Dr. Thierry Mesana; chief of cardiac surgery Dr. Marc Ruel; and beloved founder Dr. Wilbert Keon, who was pleased to tell the crowd he recently turned 80 and passed his driver’s licence renewal exam. There were also many Heart Institute board members, including chair Lawrence Soloway and foundation chair Paul LaBarge.
On hand from the Hellenic community were its president, Nicholas Lafkas, and spiritual leader, Fr. Alex Michalopulos, who referred to the Ramphos and Foustanellas families as “the real foundation of this community”.
A highlight of the Gold Plate dinners is the elimination draw that sees 20 contestants vie for $30,000. The players can share the pot of money, provided it’s a unanimous decision. Or, they can watch their group dwindle in number as their names get randomly pulled from a lottery drum by Dean Karakasis. If there’s a sole winner, he or she can choose a new Mercedes.
This year, the contest stopped after the last two contestants, Francesco Porcari, a V-P with SerCo Construction, and Joseph Giannetti, a manager with Preston Hardware, called it quits. The young men split the winnings but donated $10,000 back.
The party continued late into the evening under the giant party tent, where drinks, dessert and live jazz music awaited.
carolyn001@sympatico.ca
查看原文...
Driving the generosity was a business crowd of 575, along with philanthropist Peter Foustanellas from title sponsor Argos Carpets and Flooring and Olympia Homes.
This year’s event was particularly memorable, marking the final dinner for its chair of 30 years, Steve Ramphos, co-founder and president of District Realty. Gold Plate has raised almost $2 million for the community over the years, with the main beneficiaries being the Heart Institute and Hellenic Community of Ottawa.
Ramphos spoke fondly of the Heart Institute as the world-class facility that holds a special place in his heart. He also took a few minutes to thank those people who’ve been so involved with the dinner.
-
"Stuntman Stu" Schwartz was back to host the Hellenic Community's 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen 
Dean Karakasis pulls out the number of the next ticket during the exciting elimination draw held during the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner at the Hellenic Meeeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Fr. Alex Michalopulos unveiled this icon of Saints Stylianos and Theodora as a gift to Steve Ramphos, outgoing chair of the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner, and his wife, Doris, joined on stage by Hellenic Community Council president Nicholas Lafkas on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Pinelopi Makrodimitris, Doris Ramphos, Vassiliki Tsirou and Mary Reklitis at the afterparty for the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
"Stuntman Stu" Schwartz gives a good-bye handshake to Russell Kronick during the elimination draw for $30,000 in prize money, held during the Hellenic Community's 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Fr. Alex Michalopulos gives a standing ovation to philanthropist Peter Foustanellas for matching every $5,000 donation made at the Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Dr. Thierry Mesana, president and CEO of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, with its founder, Dr. Wilbert Keon, and Dr. Marc Ruel, chief of cardiac surgery, at the Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Lawyer Lawrence Soloway, chair of the board for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, with foundation board members Barbara Farber and Krista Kealey, at the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Hellenic Community Council treasurer Jim Sourges and Kathy and Dean Karakasis at the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, University of Ottawa Heart Institute board member Richard LíAbbÈ with Dr. Wilbert Keon and lawyer Paul LaBarge, chair of the Heart Institute's foundation board, at the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre, held Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Steve Ramphos, 30-year-long chair of the Gold Plate Dinner fundraiser, with Steve Klein, CEO of Marketing Breakthroughs Inc., at this year's fundraising dinner, held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Dikea Merziotis, Soula Koutras, Anastasia Reklitis and Angelica Lafkas at the Gold Plate Dinner afterparty, held Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre. (
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Peter Foustanellas from title sponsor Argos Carpets & Flooring and Olympia Homes, with Gold Plate Dinner chair Steve Ramphos and Fr. Alex Michalopulos at this year's fundraising dinner, held Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Steve Ramphos, 30-year-long chair of the Gold Plate Dinner fundraiser, and his wife, Doris, celebrate at the afterparty held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
The Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, was followed by another party under the giant party tent.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Steve Ramphos, chair of the annual Gold Plate Dinner for the past 30 years, thanked the audience for its support during his final year of leading the fundraiser, held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Dr. Wilbert Keon, founder of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, with his very grateful former patient, Peter Foustanellas, on stage together for the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner, held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, EY (Ernst & Young) associate partner Angie Senyshyn, tax partner Ian Sherman and manager Leslie Ivany assisted with the popular elimination draw at the Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
"Stuntman Stu" Schwartz on stage with 20 contestants of the elimination draw for $30,000 or a new Mercedes, held during the Hellenic Community's 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
A pouting Maria Urbina-Fauser (wife of Shopify chief technology officer Cody Fauser) is comforted by host "Stuntman Stu" Schwartz after she's eliminated from the contest to win $30,000 or a new Mercedes, during the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
"Stuntman Stu" Schwartz, better known that night as Stuntman Stu-opolis, was back to host the Hellenic Community's 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, "Stuntman Stu" Schwartz takes some ribbing from Peter Foustanellas, seen on stage with Dr. Wilbert Keon, Steve Ramphos and Jim Reklitis at the 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
From left, Hellenic Community president Nicholas Lafkas with elimination draw winners Joseph Giannetti, commercial paint manager at Preston Hardware, and Francesco Porcari, vice president of SerCo Construction Ltd., and Fr. Alex Michalopulos at the Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
Remaining contestants of the exciting elimination draw for $30,000 in prize money or a new Mercedes discuss on stage whether to quit or keep pushing their luck during the Gold Plate Dinner held at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
"Stuntman Stu" Schwartz hosted the elimination draw that saw 20 contestants -- including Jeffrey Miller -- dwindle down to two for the $30,000 cash prize, held during the Hellenic Community's 30th Annual Gold Plate Dinner at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen
With matching funds from philanthropist Peter Foustanellas, a crowd of 575 raised $630,000 for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute at this year's sold-out Gold Plate Dinner, held June 9 at the Hellenic Meeting and Reception Centre.
“I will always cherish the last 30 years of Gold Plate, especially the special relationships I have developed with everyone in this room,” Ramphos said on stage. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued support and your love.”
Morning show radio host and Ottawa Senators PA announcer “Stuntman Stu” Schwartz is famous in this town for auctioning off vacations, hockey tickets and dinner packages during charity galas. Not this time. Instead, he led Ottawa’s first-ever “un-auction.” He asked the crowd — made up of some of the region’s biggest Heart Institute supporters — to donate $5,000 to the newly created Steve Ramphos Fund at the cardiovascular centre.
Hands shot up in the air and the number climbed to $100,000. But, there was an added twist: all the donations were matched by Foustanellas. (He’s currently hospitalized but got a special pass from doctors to attend the fundraiser.)
Within five minutes, the total hit a quarter of a million and was at $380,000 by next morning. An additional $250,00 was raised for the Hellenic Community’s religious and cultural programs. The dinner ended up netting (yes, netting!) $630,000.
Among those to attend from the Heart Institute were its president and CEO, Dr. Thierry Mesana; chief of cardiac surgery Dr. Marc Ruel; and beloved founder Dr. Wilbert Keon, who was pleased to tell the crowd he recently turned 80 and passed his driver’s licence renewal exam. There were also many Heart Institute board members, including chair Lawrence Soloway and foundation chair Paul LaBarge.
On hand from the Hellenic community were its president, Nicholas Lafkas, and spiritual leader, Fr. Alex Michalopulos, who referred to the Ramphos and Foustanellas families as “the real foundation of this community”.
A highlight of the Gold Plate dinners is the elimination draw that sees 20 contestants vie for $30,000. The players can share the pot of money, provided it’s a unanimous decision. Or, they can watch their group dwindle in number as their names get randomly pulled from a lottery drum by Dean Karakasis. If there’s a sole winner, he or she can choose a new Mercedes.
This year, the contest stopped after the last two contestants, Francesco Porcari, a V-P with SerCo Construction, and Joseph Giannetti, a manager with Preston Hardware, called it quits. The young men split the winnings but donated $10,000 back.
The party continued late into the evening under the giant party tent, where drinks, dessert and live jazz music awaited.
carolyn001@sympatico.ca
查看原文...
