A Zen theme helped lift spirits and raise money for Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade. By Don Douloff, July/August 2009
The Chi Ping Dancers performed in traditional dress, in front of shoji screens.
Talk about synchronicity. The Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) 13th annual fundraiser, held April 8, 2009, at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle, took the theme Zen Garden, An Evening of Courage, Hope and Harmony.
And that evening, courage, hope and harmony were evident, in spades.
Moreover, the ‘courage, hope, harmony’ theme reflects WICC’s mandate: besides raising funds for cancer research, the organization provides educational forums for the insurance industry outlining how to support those affected by the disease.
“WICC has been well known for their creative and well-executed events,” says Michelle Planche, CMP, president of Toronto-based Paradigm Events, which conceived the Zen theme and planned the event.
“We wanted to develop an event that was inspiring, uplifting, sensitive to the cause, as well as being sensitive to the economic times.”
Paradigm’s budget was $20,000 for production, entertainment and decor. The company worked with suppliers to increase production elements and delivered almost $40,000 in in-kind sponsorship from entertainment, music and PowerPoint production, volunteer staffing and donations of things like linens and shoji screens.
The budget did not include venue, food and beverage and additional costs beyond production, which were covered by WICC.
“We decided to work with our own AV supplier, Cuego Audio Visual, as they were willing to work within our tight budget to design production elements and stage decor to fit the theme,” says Planche. “This meant that we had to coordinate our production elements to ensure that our suppliers did not interfere with the internal team’s execution at the Westin.”
Creating a deeply personal touch were volunteers who entered the darkened ballroom holding candles, recognizing special tributes made to friends, family and co-workers touched by cancer.
All told, over 600 insurance executives nibbled on such Asian-inspired dishes as sirloin of beef with ginger/coriander pesto and sipped Zen-inspired martinis and specialty drinks.
Serenaded by sounds from a traditional Japanese koto player and a heart-pounding Taiko Drum performance by Nagata Shachu, guests were invited into a tranquil room setting.
Continuing the Zen theme, Wu Style Tai Chi Academy instructors contributed atmospheric performances and professional dance group Chi Ping Dancers provided colourful dances based on historical events from different regions in China.
Zen models wore a variety of different clothing throughout five costume changes. Corporate sponsors donated a water pond, while on stage, an authentic gong was struck by the emcee and co-chair of the evening, Michael Butler, with Griffin Koerth Smart Forensics.
WICC raised $100,000 — a loud rebuke to a terrible disease courtesy of a harmonious event.
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