The red carpet was rolled out on Queen St West in front of The Burroughes Building to welcome 400 guests to the CANFAR Young Professional Council’s fourth annual fundraiser Paint The Town Red. Guests checked in a small quiet lobby, received their swag pack containing condoms and gum before boarding an old elevator which transported them to the party. The beats became louder as the elevator ascended and the doors opened to a lively room decorated with paint buckets, brushes, and splashes of red.
Guests first stopped off at the Stella Artois bar where they received the freshly poured cold beer in a collector glass. Then they dropped by the candy booth to purchase chocolate AIDS ribbon lollipops made by Sweetstakes.
Next stop was the raffle ticket booth where they purchased tickets for exceptional prizes including a trip from Porter Airlines, tickets to a Toronto Blue Jays game, a Drake Hotel gift basket, theatre tickets, assorted memberships, and jewelry created by Swarovki. They then posed for quick glam shots at the photo booth. Then continued an adjoining room where multiple food stations featuring foods from some of the city’s best vendors were awaiting to be devoured. On hand were Hot Bunzz, Emma’s Eatery, The Galette Girls, Caplansky’s Delicatessen, Lisa Marie, Cleese Catering, Greenhouse Juice Co, Glory Hole Doughnuts, and Cardinal Rule.
After a quick stop off at the bar for Eska Water, Barefoot Wine, Labatt, or TAG Vodka, and guests admired and bid on the 30 original pieces of art available at the silent auction. Then it was time to rub shoulder’s with other young professionals from across the city and notables including Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow, Jade Elektra, Myles Sexton, and Christopher Bunting, President and CEO of CANFAR Toronto. When the party became too hot, guests retreated to the rooftop patio for some cool air and view of the CN Tower. Otherwise it was off to the dance floor with beats of Salacious Sound.
CANFAR YPC’s Chair, Mark Mahoney, briefly thanked guests for attending fundraiser which raises money and awareness for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. They hope to one day reach a future without HIV/AIDS. “Organizing events like this one and actively trying to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS among younger Canadians is the YPC’s way of showing how much we care about what we’re doing” said Sabrina Scott, Communications Chair, CANFAR YPC. “This event, and the efforts of the CANFAR YPC in general are unique in that they are targeted to a younger demographic, and not exclusive to the LGBT community. It’s an inclusive event and a group of young professionals working together to help the fight to end HIV/AIDS. Globally, there are 34 million people living with HIV, and in 2011 alone, 1.7 million people died worldwide from AIDS-related causes.”
The CANFAR Young Professional Council (YPC) is a group of community-based young Toronto professional volunteers dedicated to assisting CANFAR in its mission to end AIDS. Created in 2010, this council comprises of 15 young professionals who oversee CANFAR’s youth-based programs. Since its inception CANFAR YPC has raised over $65,000.
Photographs by Ingrid Goh.
