On April 29th, Entrepôts Dominion hosted the 15th edition of the CFO Dinner, Marie-Vincent’s flagship fundraising event, under the theme “Cultivating Hope.” Bringing together 170 guests who turned their presence into tangible impact, this evening raised funds to benefit young victims of sexual violence.
This result once again demonstrates the remarkable mobilization of the business community in support of the Marie-Vincent Foundation, which is wrapping up its 50th anniversary celebrations.
Photo credit: Geneviève Gagnon.
The tone was set the moment the doors opened. In a meticulously decorated room, guests were welcomed with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres prepared by Jean-Philippe Durivage Lachance (Groupe Dynamite) and Chef Saguenay Pedneault-Walton (Récoltes Traiteur).
Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, a long-time ally and spokesperson for Marie-Vincent for over 10 years, and actor Olivier Loubry hosted the evening with warmth and humor. Their natural chemistry was palpable.
Throughout the course of the meal, each CFO-chef team took the stage to present their dish, share an anecdote, and demonstrate, in their own way, their commitment to Marie-Vincent’s mission.
A four-course gastronomic experience, enhanced by food and wine pairings orchestrated by Jean-François Pruneau (Transat) and wine expert Nadia Fournier.
A new feature this year: PixMob LED wristbands, connected in real time to donations made via the QR code placed on each table, lit up as donations came in, illuminating the room and transforming the guests’ generosity into a true collective experience.
The most powerful moment of the evening came from Alison Green, founder of Bien chez soi, a survivor, and a member of the Marie-Vincent Board of Directors. Alison addressed the audience with rare authenticity, speaking about her personal experience and her commitment to working collectively to change the life course of hundreds of young people.
Her testimony reminded everyone of the true meaning of their presence that evening.
Alongside the dinner, the online auction featured prestigious items: a gourmet dinner for six at Hoogan & Beaufort and Annette Bar à Vin, autographed NHL hockey jerseys, airline tickets, luxury eyewear, and many other items.
As a result, various items up for sale that evening sparked the interest of many bidders. Here is the complete list of items offered during the auction, along with their generous donors:
At last, when the final total was revealed, the room erupted in a well-deserved ovation. With a total of over $480,000, this represents a significant increase compared to the previous edition.
This sum will provide tangible support to strengthen services for young victims of sexual violence and their families, and to bolster our prevention efforts in order to help build a world safe from sexual violence.
Marie-Vincent would like to express her deepest gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of this year’s CFO Dinner:
Honorary Chair: A big thank you to Gabriel Grenier, Director of Corporate Financing at TD, whose commitment and leadership were central to this 15th edition.
The organizing committee: Gabriel Grenier (TD), Richard O’Doherty (McCarthy Tétrault), Sonya Branco, Sébastien Perron-Carle (La Caisse), and Benoît Brunet (Scotiabank).
CFO–Chef Teams:
Our Partners:
Thank you to all of our sponsors, whose generosity makes this event possible year after year:
Finally, a special thank you to the entire Marie-Vincent team and to our wonderful volunteers, whose quiet yet essential dedication made this evening possible.
Together, let’s cultivate hope: see you at the 16th edition!
