South Asian community raises over $640,000 to complete funding of Diabetes Transformation Project

(L-R) Akash Rattan, VP and Chief Financial Officer, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation; Danvir Roopra, Co-Chair, A Night of Miracles; Dr. Shazhan Amed, Head, Division of Endocrinology, BC Children’s Hospital; Seema Lal, Co-Chair, A Night of Miracles; Robin Dhir, Founding Chair, A Night of Miracles; and Darrell Jones, Board Chair, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Photo submitted

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation on Tuesday announced A Night of Miracles, which took place on Saturday, September 24 at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, exceeded its fundraising goal and raised $640,000, and counting, for the Diabetes Transformation Project (DTP).

The Foundation reached its goal of raising $3.1 million for DTP through funds raised from A Night of Miracles and through individual gifts from donors over the past three years.

The DTP will help bring expert knowledge and resources to families across BC through an innovative virtual education platform and peer support networks. The project will also expand the BC Pediatric Diabetes Registry to help advance diabetes research discoveries in the patient care setting.

“Through the vision and generosity of guests at A Night of Miracles, $1.8 million has been raised since 2019, which enabled us to cross the finish line for funding the Diabetes Transformation Project. These funds will go towards completing various DTP initiatives including the development of a virtual education platform and peer support groups for children and caregivers,” said Malcolm Berry, President and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“Strong community partnership, like the one that the Foundation has with the South Asian community, and the support of all British Columbians, result in the best health outcomes for all children in the province.”

The DTP will help more kids with type 1 diabetes access the expert care and resources they need to control their condition, no matter where they live in the province, and to ease the daily challenges of living with the disease.

For the past 13 years, A Night of Miracles, a South Asian Community initiative, has fundraised over $6.6 million in support of initiatives like the DTP, and the Special Procedures Suite at the Teck Acute Care Centre and Sunny Hill Health Centre. The South Asian community helped launch the Diabetes Transformation Project in 2019 with the A Night of Miracles gala, and on Saturday helped DTP reach its $3.1M goal. Their ongoing support demonstrates the community’s long-standing commitment to providing the best health care imaginable to kids across the province.

More than 300 of BC’s South Asian philanthropic, business and community leaders attended the 2022 A Night of Miracles, co-presented by Fasken and Rogers. On behalf of Rogers and OMNI, the Masters of Ceremonies Randip Janda and Gurp Sian lit up the stage as they co-hosted the evening. They were joined by Shiamak Vancouver Dance Team and DJ Wax, who provided the evening’s entertainment, as well as returning auctioneer Fred Lee, who energized guests while inspiring them to open their hearts—and their wallets—during the live auction and Fund-a-Need.

“This year’s A Night of Miracles co-chairs, Seema Lal and Danvir Roopra, as well as the gala cabinet members—Founding Chair, Robin Dhir, Former Chair, Manjot Hallen, Rita Chohan, Dr. Lovedeep Randhawa and Don Stickney—did an incredible job of bringing this event to life, and inspiring the community to give generously,” Berry said. “Thank you to our co-chairs and Cabinet for your leadership, guidance and hard work. You were the engine that helped us to exceed our fundraising goal.”