Legacy Gala Brings ‘80s Back to Life with Resounding Success
Living up to its hype, the Legacy Gala was a fantastic time for all attendees. Raising $130,000 towards funding and grants in support of developing local athletes, the Gala included a star-studded line up of chefs, '80s bands, and Olympic athletes.
As a follow up to the 2013 Super Hero themed event, the Legacy Gala showcased everything that the 1980s had to offer and more. Kaylin Irvine, 2014 Olympic Speed Skater, summed up the experience, claiming "it was the bombdiggity! The '80s theme was like, totally clutch. From the costumes to the food to the concert, the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary and WinSport put on an outrageous event. It was such a great opportunity to mingle with corporate Calgary; I wasn't even alive in the 1980s but the theme instantly gave everyone something in common."
Beginning the night with a reception for sponsors including aclaro softworks inc., THE Downtown Sports Clinic, CBRE, Tourism Calgary and EFW Radiology, athletes showcased their Olympic hardware with the esteemed guests while they sampled food and beverages from 17 of Calgary's top chefs who had donated their time to the fantastic cause. Chefs whose talents were on display that evening included Michele Aurigemma from Q Haute Cuisine, Brian Diamond of Il Sogno, and WinSport's Executive Chef Ronnie Gillman. Intermittent raffles and live auctions were held throughout the evening, offering amazing prizes to the winners while keeping the '80s action going.
Once satiated by the overabundance of food and drinks, athletes and guests moved on to the concert floor where the fun continued with a three-hour Lost '80s Live concert. Retro performances of hits from bands such as Men Without Hats, Wang Chung, and Berlin kept the crowd moving and engaged while funds continued to be donated to amateur sport in Alberta, combining fun with philanthropy in a most spectacular manner.
After the incredible success of this year's fundraiser, and the enthusiasm that the crowd felt for the 1980s theme, the only challenge left is coming up with a concept for next year's event!
A sincere thank you goes out to all of the chefs, bands, athletes, and sponsors who donated their time and skills to this amazing and successful event.
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Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary
Writen by Brittany Schussler: @bschussler
Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto
WinSport: www.winsport.ca
