Every day we hear the word Community.
Community is paramount. Communities shelter us from isolation and loneliness providing us with essential human connections; they are primary components in cultivating a joyous and meaningful life.
People support one another through their communities; they share experiences and struggles, triumphs and failures, elation and pain. The bonds we build and share sustain valuable relationships and deepen our sense of belonging.
It is estimated that 500,000 Canadians are currently blind or partially-sighted. An estimated 5.59 million more have an eye disease that could cause sight loss.
The CNIB Foundation has dutifully served the blind and partially-sighted community for 100 years. They are committed to removing barriers to inclusion and empowering their community, and rely on fundraising, innovative events and private donations to continue providing their important services.
Last year CNIB launched its GTA Hub in the heart of central Toronto, Yonge and St. Clair. This Community Hub has already made a massive impact; it is highly accessible and has steadily improved access to education and employment. The Hub generates new opportunities for the community to connect by broadening access to technology.
The Hub offers a safe and supportive environment for developing new skills. The specially-designed building contains audio information which allows for independent indoor navigation, tactile way-finding strips for cane users, and mobile furniture. Yoga classes, music jams, parental support groups and Toastmasters meetings are hosted regularly at the Hub.
Two virtual reality screens are used to recreate environments including an outdoor streetscape with simulated parked cars, crosswalks – even barking dogs! Specially-designed career workshops are offered to teach networking, communication, and professional-development skills to the blind and partially-sighted.
CNIB also provides vital employer education outreach and advocacy, as well as an employment retention program for people who have newly-acquired vision loss or experience a sudden change in vision.
The CNIB Foundation is proud to present their captivating annual signature gala event Skyball on Wednesday, March 27th, from 6pm-10pm at the Artscape Wychwood Barns (601 Christie Street, Toronto). High-rollers, generous donors, and influential Torontonians will roll the dice and revel in the smooth sounds of live jazz and the crisp taste of a dry martini – shaken not stirred. Table-game winners will take home some outstanding prizes thanks to the charitable support of a fantastic lineup of sponsors. All proceeds will benefit the CNIB’s new state-of-the-art facility: the GTA Hub.
Guests include:
Suzanne Decary-van den Broek – Executive Director, CNIB Ontario South (GTA)
Rob Oliphant – MP Don Valley West
Dr. Jill Andrew – MPP Toronto-St.Paul’s
Sheref Sabawy – MPP Mississauga-Erin Mills
Sarah Singh – MPP Brampton Centre
Joan Kelley Walker – Philanthropist, Model, and Real Housewives of Toronto Star
CNIB Skyball Event Committee
Special thanks to the generous donors:
Lyft
Up Fundraising
Jim Pattison Lease
Mercer
Canadian Tire
Data Communication Management
Lost Craft Beer
Georgian Bay Co.
Edrington
Market by Coppa’s
Nonna Francesca
Ramelli Truffle
Auction and Prize Sponsors
HSG Fur
Urth Expeditions
Airlinez
Patricia’s Painters
McCallen presented by Eddrington
Agora
Ecobee
Mamakas
Bacchanal
Fresh and Wild
Italpasta
Foundation WCPD
The Fives
Toronto Fashion Academy
