Posted by Peter Roaf on Dec 01, 2017
Once again, in this spectacular year of 2017, Rotary District 5040 has shown its outstanding generosity to The Rotary Foundation so gifts to our communities here in BC or somewhere in the world can continue. With the global generosity of Rotary members, through The Rotary Foundation, peacebuilding is reducing conflict, diseases are being fought, clean water and sanitation is being provided, mothers and children are receiving care, education is being delivered, and women are being supported in business.  The latest contribution was more than $30,000 US raised through the November 18 annual District 5040 Foundation dinner. Pictured here are President of the Rotary Club of Vancouver, Phil Webber, and Foundation Dinner Chair, Min Kuang.
The Rotary Club of Vancouver, home of District Governor Don Evans, hosted the event at the Terminal City Club in downtown Vancouver for over 200 Rotarians, family and friends who, with others in the District, added a further $12,000 committed through the dinner and the District’s matching funds to the Paul Harris Society. 
 
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, MLA Teresa Wat,
and Consuls General of five nations send greetings to Rotary District 5040 at the Foundation Dinner.
 
This latest Foundation contribution adds to the US$3.3 million raised jointly with District 5050 through the Million Dollar Dinner in January and funds raised through the District 5040 Foundation dinner, postponed to March 2017 from Fall 2016.
 
The evening opened with a social hour to the background saxophone sounds provided by DJ, Dennis Tymoshenko, and a Korean dance routine by the “Charm Dance Company” arranged by Rotary Club of Cambie’s Michael Chang.
 
During the dinner three children each played classical music selections on a Steinway grand piano which Tom Lee Music provided for the evening.
 
The entertainment concluded at the end of the dinner with professional Argentine tango dancers, Steven and Johanna, dancing to “Invierno” by Francisco Canaro and provided basic dance lessons, thanks to the Rotary Club of Richmond.
 
Dave Hamilton and Peter Lui were joint MC’s, in English and Mandarin.
 
The Foundation dinner featured entertainment, fine dining, speeches, awards, Peace Scholar, tango lesson, dancing and good fun. Here are some photos, but more can be viewed here.
 
 
 
 
Rotary Peace Scholar, Julia Smith, shared her experiences and the relevance of the Rotary Peace program in making a difference throughout the world.
 
Greetings and thank you for support of the Foundation came from District Governor Don Evans who presented recognition banners and certificates to various clubs for their exceptional contributions to the Foundation, also to the End Polio campaign.
 
District Foundation Chair and Past District Governor Garry Shearer also thanked all our clubs and individual members for their generosity. He was joined by a recorded video of personal greetings from the chair of the polio project at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, arranged by the dinner event chair Min Kuang.
 
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's President of Global Development, Chris Elias, speaks to Rotary District 5040 members
 
Auctioneer John Hayto encouraged proceeds from live auction which featured two tickets to China courtesy of China Southern Airlines, a large etching by world renown artist Gordon Smith courtesy of event chair, Min Kuang, and an exclusive Rotary International President’s tie courtesy of DG Don Evans. A silent auction also contributed to the evening’s Foundation proceeds.
 
Thank you to the Foundation dinner’s gold sponsor, CHIMP, the Charitable Foundation, and six other corporate sponsors who not only made the event possible, but such a success: Investors Group (District Governor Nominee Bala Naidoo, Burnaby club); Kearney Funeral Services (Ryan Crean, Vancouver club); New Landmark Capital Corp; IOTPay; Machool Technologies; Eyexpo.
 
Foundation dinner chair, Min Kuang, and co-chair, John Bathurst, thank all attended the dinner, auctioneer John Hayto, Rotary Club of Vancouver and in particular members Franco Gallo and Carolyn Treger plus Simon Cheng, Geoffrey O, Dave Hamilton, Peter Lui and Vicki Haller.