Carlo and wife Fulvia Marcantonio, Daffodil Gala Committee Chair (GioVanni)
The Gala was jointly hosted by Ottawa St. Anthony Italia Soccer Club and the Daffodil Gala Committee. This year, the Daffodil Gala launched the Steno Rossanese Endowment Fund for Cancer Research, while celebrating the founder of the St. Anthony Soccer Club’s outstanding contributions to the community.
The popular fundraiser was attended by approximately 415 people, all of whom had the chance to win one of more than 200 prizes via silent auction or raffles. A trip for two to anywhere in North America, including Hawaii and “sun destinations,” was generously donated by Kids' Horizons Air Canada.
The event got off to a rousing start, and picked up momentum as emcees Maureen Welch, host of CBC's Living in Ottawa, and Claudio Fracassi, the "Singing Soup Guy" for this year's event, kept things moving along smoothly. The Showtime Party Band, which performed an eclectic mix of classic oldies, disco, and more current popular songs, made sure everyone was up and dancing.
Fulvia Marcantonio has been chairing the committee that makes the event happen for the past 14 years. This year's committee of Italian-Canadians included Fran Colasante, Joanne De Franco, Carolina Mariani-DiRienzo, Len Fardella, Antonietta and Tina Mariani, Rocco Nicastro, Bev Nowak, Assunta Testa, Diane Vena, Franco Sdao, and Joe Ierullo. Joe Nogueira took portraits of the guests at the event.
By the end of the evening over $27,000 had been raised for cancer research in Ottawa. Additional donations will be accepted until the end of June. Over the years, the Daffodil Gala donors and patrons have raised a total $370,000.
More information can be obtained at www.daffodilgala.ca, along with a picture gallery of last year’s Gala and a list of this year's donors.
Contact Giovanni at giovannipublicist@yahoo.ca for upcoming events.
