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thank you for supporting our 
20th anniversary gala:
Miaka 20 ya Mafanikio – 20 YEARS OF IMPACT

May 3, 2025 at Bellvue Manor in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to our Canadian supporters and our TOBFC Global Family for making our 20th Anniversary Gala a truly memorable event. The evening was a wonderful celebration of our impact over the last 20 years. Together we marked this milestone
by raising a net total of C$103,055 – 
our best result ever!

 

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor LiUNA! Local 183 and
to all our gala sponsors, ticket purchasers and donors who
were not able to join us. We couldn’t have done it without
all of you!

 

Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca added to this success by
presenting a cheque at the gala for $10,000 from the Spirit
of Generosity. This continued commitment has allowed us
to expand the operation of TOBFC’s KICKIT Mobile Libraries
program, now serving 25 communities and 9,000 students
every week. Deborah McCracken-Nangereke thanked
Mayor Del Duca with a photograph of our KICKIT Mobile
Libraries in action.

 

Our 2025 grand total, including the Spirit of Generosity donation, is a record-breaking C$113,055! All of these funds will directly support TOBFC programs and services in Tanzania.

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See the infographic for more achievements from our 20th Anniversary Gala. Thank you to everyone who contributed to these fabulous results.

Founder Deborah McCracken-Nangereke kicked off our celebrations by speaking about the incredible milestone of our 20th anniversary. From the beginning TOBFC has been guided by the African proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. TOBFC has proven the truth of that proverb through its growth, resilience and impact. Our two-decade journey has been shared by many and demonstrates what can be accomplished when people unite around a shared vision.

 

Deborah spoke about how empowerment is central to TOBFC programming and the importance of providing the tools and opportunities for people to lead lives of dignity and purpose. She then played a film she created in Tanzania showing the amazing programs and lives that have been transformed.

 

The party continued until midnight with great food, professional photobooth pictures with a choice of fun Tanzanian backgrounds, visits to our 3D virtual reality tour of TOBFC programs, one-of-a-kind purchases at the African market and silent auction, and lucky winners of wonderful raffle prize packages.

 

Thanks to the support of our Gold Entertainment Sponsor BPA Financial Group, we hired a live band to enhance the celebration. Everyone had a blast dancing to the energetic tunes of the amazing band Switchbeat.

 

TOBFC’s 20th anniversary gala was a huge success because we were joined by so many people that have shared in our journey. Thank you for helping us to create the last 20 years of impact and for launching us into the next 20 years. We know we will go far, because we will go together!

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2025 Gala Diego Deb Jane 20250503-18_34_-3_websize.jpg
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2025 Gala Switchbeat guitar 20250503-21_57__websize.jpg

Platinum Gala Sponsor 

Gold Entertainment Gala Sponsor 

Silver Gala Sponsors

Bronze Gala Sponsor

Gala Supporters

Photographer – Chris Tellez

Opening Musicians – Stephanie Ferracane, Anthony Feliciani, Chris Bove

Band – Switchbeat

Photo Booth – Rent a Photo Booth

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Photography

Creative Sponsor

Event Hall

$10,000 Donation

Table Purchasers and Donors – $1,950 and above

David Archer

Compact Mould

Barbara & Karl Davis

Dr. Amin Dhalla & Dolly Jiwa

Emma and Dan Ferracane and family

Wayne McCracken in Memorium

Montessori School in Kleinburg

The Gulshan & Pyarali G. Nanji Family Foundation

Pizzaville Inc.

Regional Councillor Gino Rosati

Gold Ticket Purchasers and Donors – $500 and above

Ryan Austin & Marie-France Perreault

Bellvue Manor

Kirsten Boucher

Richard Boutin & Karen Letwinka

Susan Carter Smith

Maureen Davey

Francesca Gigliotti Chari

Zelia Drumm, Drumm International Group Inc.

Tina & Steve Haller

J.P. & Denise Kovac

Thomas & Patricia McCabe

Dr. Donatus Mutasingwa

Nobleton Lions Club

Ivan & Virginia Rhodes

Laura Rosati

Robbie Rotin

Charlotte & Jerome Ryan

Rob Burns, Travelers Canada

Ken Kopke, Vanguard Cleaning Systems GTA West

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Anonymous – 7

Individual Ticket Purchasers and Donors – up to $499

Barb Addie

Nicole Austin

Catharine Baxter

Ingrid & Nicholas Beck 

Bob & Peggy Belcher

Susan & Mike Bonello

Linda & Greg Burch

John Carter

Sara Chuma

Linda Davies

Marc Drumm

John Fedele

Regional Councillor Mario Ferri

Adina Fishbein

Forster Kassam Private Wealth Group of RBC Dominion Securities

Rabindra Gunraj

Jim Jutras

Monica Kavanagh

Margreth Kimario

Yatika Kohli

Debra Korzon

Keshini Kumarakesary

Mark & Janet Lack

Shabani Mbandu

Catherine Mollel

Maria Moreau

Dina Mrango

Susan Mrango Matemba

Judith Ness

Robert Onorato

Victoria Pensa

Ramadhani Ponda

Diana Reitberger

Jamie Rossiter

Maria-Anna Rossi

Hon. Deb Schulte

Janice Seidelin

Preia Sibdhannie

Angela Simpson-Cormier

Erica Sirdevan

Rebecca Smith

Gwen Sugiyama

Joan Teri

Brenda Undiri

Carley Vint-Reed

Councillor Adriano Volpentesta

Anthony Zavarella

 

Anonymous - 39

Silent Auction, Prize, and Décor Donors

Avant Goût

Angus Glen Golf Club

Rosemarie Armstrong

Art Gallery of Ontario

Ryan Beattie

Bristol Car and Truck Rental

Linda & Greg Burch

Susan Carter Smith & Jeff Smith

Cloudsley Cellars

Alex Cross

Cultural Heritage Tanzania

Maureen Davey

Diane Demidow

Dr. Amin Dhalla and Dolly Jiwa

Dragonfly Arts

Zelia Drumm

Molly Felde

Fraserway RV

FYC Designz

Gold Standard Gluten Free Baking Co.

Diego Giugovaz

Karima Hamir

Holiday inn Express

Monica Kavanagh

Lamiyah Khanbhai

Bob Kingsmill Pottery

Kubuni Artisans

Karen Letwinka

Dr. John and Deanna Long

Makingi Arts

Mid Valley Gardens

Deborah McCracken-Nangereke & Putiyei Nangereke

Wayne McCracken (legacy gift)

Ginette McCracken

Myth Estiatopio Restaurant

Al Nanji

National Ballet of Canada

Party Magic

Victoria Pensa

Pizzaville

Repurposed with Panache

Ivan and Virginia Rhodes

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Laura Rosati

Charlotte and Jerome Ryan

Shawn Sparling

Ruby Stoffregen

Summerhill Market

Tee 2 Green

The Cookery

The Keg

Tom’s Place

TOBFC Gala Committee

 

Anonymous

Our Global Family is very important to us and we want to acknowledge every individual who has made a donation. We need your consent to recognize you on our website, so if you don't see your name please contact us at info@theolivebranchforchildren.org. Let us celebrate you!

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