Raising $2M for Camp Trillium

Set Sail for Hope is an exclusive annual foodie/sailing event held on the Toronto Islands, at Hanlan’s Point, each June. In the six months leading up to event day, about a dozen Toronto professionals organize themselves to encourage 20 or so top Toronto restaurants to come out and prepare a gourmet al fresco lunch for a table of 12, and for 20 or so of Toronto’s luxury sailboat owners to donate the use of their half million dollar plus yachts for a leisure cruise on Lake Ontario. All this for a bustling group of over 200 people who make donations either through their companies or as individuals.

It’s a feel-good event, like no other. No rubber chicken here. No boring menus either. And, the chefs compete – albeit informally and good-naturedly – for the best food and best table presentations. The smallest boat in the fleet is 45 feet long, and the owners and crew enjoy showing off the decadent ship-shape-ness of their beauties. None of the guests are asked for further donations during the event, nor is there a media circus. It’s all low-key, discreet, and luxurious. The guests enjoy what they report to be the “best charity event in Toronto, ever”, content in the knowledge that their entire donation is used to help the children.

Nigel Raincock, Set Sail for Hope board chairman, speaks for the whole group when he says “We never spend a penny because everything, and I do mean everything, is volunteered. People’s generosity is overwhelming; we’ve found along the way that all you have to do is ask.”

The next event is Friday, June 18, 2010. There is still a call for donations. Read this Toronto Star article about Set Sail for Hope.

TheStar.com_-_GTA_-_Millions_raised_at_zero_cost

Some 2009 participants: corporate donations – Bell Canada, Brymar Consulting, CIBC, CIBC World Markets, Citibank Canada, Dominion of Canada Insurance, Heel Boy, Kinross Gold Corp., ONEX Corporation, RCM-FOX, Rogers Cable, Scotia Capital, TD Securities, Vacuum Products Canada Inc.; restaurants Acqua Ristorante, Buca, Jacob & Company Steakhouse, Delta Chelsea Hotel Toronto, Delta Meadowvale Resort, Epic Restaurant at Fairmont Royal York, Fred’s Not Here, International Centre, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Suites Toronto, Rennaissance Toronto Airport and Downtown Hotels, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Toronto Congress Centre, The Miller Tavern, Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, Orbit Room, Rodney’s Oyster House.

(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

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