Burnaby fundraising ball takes Cabaret theme

Antonia Beck is putting on the ritz for The Diamond Cabaret, the annual gala fundraiser for the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House to be held Feb. 25 at the Firefighters Club.

MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER

If life isn't a cabaret for those at South Burnaby Neighbourhood House (SBNH), their annual fundraiser event will be.

The Diamond Cabaret will be held Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Burnaby Firefighters Club banquet hall, starting with cocktails at 6 p.m. and followed by a dinner and burlesque-themed show by Bonnie Kilroe, who will perform in the style of Liza Minelli's character in Cabaret.

As they have for the past seven years, SBNH's team will transform the venue for the event. "I think people are quite surprised at how glamourous it looks inside," said SBNH executive director Antonia Beck.

Dinner will be a plated four-course prime-rib meal, with a vegetarian option available.

Keeping with the annual diamond feature, chocolate cigars will be sold for $25 each with one wrapped with a paper band that wins a diamond set donated by Trio Diamond and Gold.

There will be live and silent auctions, with the former featuring items such as a $1,000 travel voucher from Solaway Travel, getaways to Harrison Hot Springs and Palm Springs, artworks by Burnaby artist Michael Delac, and a chance to have lunch with local MLAs Kathy Corrigan (Burnaby-Deer Lake) and Raj Chouhan (Burnaby-Edmonds). The evening will end with dancing to the live music of Rainshadow.

SBNH hopes to raise $25,000 to support its programs which don't always get full funding from other sources to run them. In particular, Beck said, the money is earmarked for its community kitchen, youth leadership and community volunteer programs which "all need a boost" in funding.

"We have to fundraise because there's not always grants that meet what the needs are."

That's where the fundraising ball comes in, as well as sponsorships from corporations such as Scotiabank, which is not only sending volunteers but will match funds raised up to $5,000, and Investors Group.

Tickets to the Diamond Cabaret are $100 each or a table of 10 for $900 and are available at 604-431-0400.