Brazilian Carnival Ball

Once again, Metro Toronto Convention Centre transformed into a tropical rainforest, with vibrant feathers, mesmerizing costumes and spectacular palm trees. 

On May 8, 2010, the 44th annual Brazilian Carnival Ball brought prominent members of the community and humanitarians together to enjoy enchanting Brazilian beats and rhythms, décor and entertainment, to help raise money for the redevelopment of the Toronto East General Hospital.

Among the guests were teachers, counsellors and doctors, who were blown away by the beauty and benevolence the ball brought together in one room.
 
“This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever, ever been involved in. I am so excited to be here,” says Ebenezer Inkumsah, an addictions and mental health counsellor at St. Michael’s Hospital.
 
First organized in 1966 by the late Anna Maria de Souza, the Brazilian Carnival Ball’s goal is to raise money for a number of significant causes in health care, research, culture and education throughout Toronto and Brazil. With over $55 million raised to date, the funds gathered at this year’s event help with the many renovations that need to be made to the facilities and spaces of Toronto East General Hospital.
Rob Devitt, president and chief executive officer of Toronto East General Hospital, says the hospital’s $200 million redevelopment plan aims to upgrade some of its current facilities that are 80 years old and still delivering patient care.

He says events like the Brazilian Carnival Ball assist in the obtainment of needed resources to make the changes the hospital needs to better serve the public.

“This means a huge injection towards that campaign. Government funding doesn’t cover all of the costs of running a hospital and maintaining services for a community, so events like this are so, so important in order to ensure we have money to replace buildings and buy equipment,” says Devitt.

This year’s ball raised over $3.2 million in support of its beneficiary.