Business luminaries such as Keg owner David Aisenstat, Concord Pacific CEO Terry Hui and mining mogul Frank Giustra joined past and present B.C. premiers to help raise nearly $1 million for the Face The World Foundation at Army & Navy owner Jacqui Cohen’s waterfront home June 4.
The $960,000 raised was 23% less than the $1.25 million that Cohen and her friends raised in 2010.
“Everybody is spending less money,” the department store heiress told Business in Vancouver. “Sales at my annual [Army & Navy] shoe sale were down. The world is a different place.”
Some of the money Face The World raises comes from an auction. This year, Cohen found that hotels that previously donated a three-night stay in past years donated only a two-night stay this year.
Similarly, restaurants that donated a dinner for six in the past were only willing to donate a dinner for four, she said.
Cohen founded the Face The World Foundation in 1991 and has been hosting annual parties at her Point Grey home ever since.
Everyone who attends is expected to ante up at least $1,500 for the ticket. About 30 of the 230 guests are considered “angels” because they donate between $5,000 and $50,000.
Some guests arrived in time to watch the Vancouver Canucks win Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final on a 70-inch TV. Others, such as Cohen’s local MLA and premier, Christy Clark, and former MLA and premier Gordon Campbell arrived after the game and nibbled Keg-style chicken wings and nachos until dinner was served at 10 p.m.
Aisenstat donated the food and paid to set up a temporary kitchen where his staff prepared steaks and lobster.
An open bar ensured that guests had all the champagne and wine they wanted.
“Everybody left happy and feeling good because they all made Vancouver a better place,” Cohen said.
Face The World gives money to a variety of charities. One gift last year was $500,000 to the Streettohome Foundation, Cohen said.
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: Glen Korstrom