Thank you for changing the game at the 2024 Sports Celebrities Festival presented by Wheaton Precious Metals
On November 5, the B.C. sports community came together for the 2024 Sports Celebrities Festival presented by Wheaton Precious Metals. The joyful in-person gala brought together Special Olympics athletes, business leaders, community champions, and B.C. sports stars at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, raising $500,000 for Special Olympics BC’s transformative sport programs.
Funds raised at the 2024 Sports Celebrities Festival will go a long way in helping athletes with intellectual disabilities chase their dreams and compete in the sports they love. Since its inception 26 years ago, the gala has raised over $11 million of crucial funding for Special Olympics BC.
Hosted by Special Olympics BC athletes Susan Wang and Matthew Williams, the 2024 event included dinner, a rhythmic gymnastics performance by Special Olympics BC athlete Becki Allen, and many opportunities to change lives. Guests participated in the PALLADIO Jewellers Raffle, Fund-a-Need, live auction, and the Heads & Tails game sponsored by Wheaton Precious Metals. The highly anticipated silent auction raised more than $58,000, with guests and supporters bidding on an incredible assortment of items donated by businesses across the province.
The event featured B.C. sports celebrities who each paired up with a Special Olympics athlete for the evening. The star-studded Sports Celebrities parade of athletes kicked off the evening in style, hosted by Don Andrews!
Special Olympics BC athlete Ariel Taylor and her parent Tina Taylor also took the stage to share their inspiring stories with the crowd.
Tina spoke about challenges her family has faced. “It’s difficult to see your child being shunned by fellow classmates, not being included in play dates, sports or birthday parties and more,” said Tina.
After enrolling Ariel into an alternative school, and later Special Olympics, Tina said she noticed a remarkable difference.
“Participating in two or three sports per week occupies Ariel’s time in a healthy and engaging way,” said Tina. “The best part of it all is to arrive at a practice and see the athletes chatting, sharing stories, knowing that they are among friends … a community within a community. This is what Special Olympics is all about.”
Ariel has trained and competed in basketball, track and field, 5-pin bowling, soccer, snowshoeing, bocce, and Club Fit, just to name a few. “Competing alongside my friends and fellow athletes makes me feel happy and proud,” said Ariel. “It is fun, I make new friends, I meet new coaches, and I get to travel to different places.”
WATCH ARIEL AND TINA TAYLOR’S SPEECH
Thank you for supporting the Sports Celebrities Festival and empowering athletes and families like the Taylors. Our generous sponsors, donors, guests, celebrities, volunteers, and supporters once again made this year’s event so successful.
“I would like to share the Special Olympics athlete’s oath with you: ‘Let me win; but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,’” said Ariel.
Our generous sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Sandstorm Gold Royalties
Event Sponsors
Fairmont Pacific Rim and PALLADIO Jewellers
Media Sponsors
Sportsnet 650, The Province, and Vancouver Sun
Thank you to the Sports Celebrities Festival supporters!
SCF COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs
- Simona Antolak
- Stephanie Kaye
Tables Sales Chair
- David Yan
Auction Chair
- Christina Boram
Organizing and Advisory Committee
- Carmen de Guzman
- Gunnar Eggertson
- Jen Hansen
- Deb Podowski
- Nick Lum
- Kellyanne Yep
- Joshua Sunwoo
- Gordon Forbes
Table purchasers
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
- Canucks for Kids Fund
- Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP
- CG Wealth Management
- PionMatifat Investment Group
- Computershare
- Cool Air Rentals Ltd
- Dattani Wealth Advisory Group
- Dueck Auto Group
- Hillcore Group
- Majormaki
- National Bank Financial
- NBM Group
- Odlum Brown Limited
- Prospera Credit Union
- RCG Group
- Woodall Family
FUND-A-NEED DONORS $2,500+
- Randy Smallwood
- Mark Woodall
- Pamela Keith
- Tsering Luding
- Harold Goodwyn
- Bill Mitchell
- Gunnar Eggertson
- Simon Cmrlec
- Stephen Radcliffe
- Doug Holtby
- Majormaki Foundation,
- Simona Antolak
- Brent Sayles
- Geoff Gates
- Tara Hassan
- Patti Hirst
- Haytham Hodaly
- Brett Kagetsu
- Mike Konnert
- John O'Malley
- Darrell Podowski
- Jennifer Wasylyk
AUCTION DONORS $1000+
- Abbotsford Canucks
- Whistler Blackcomb
- PavCo & BC Place
- Vancouver Police Department
- Pattison Media Group
- Ted Hirst
- Outback Teambuilding
- Canucks Sports & Entertainment
- Dueck Auto Group
- Empire Company Ltd.
- Fairmont Chateau Whistler
- Fairmont Empress
- Deb Podowski Acting Studio
- Tasty Indian Bistro
- Stapl Studio
- Strange Company Productions
- Sisley Paris and Holt Renfrew
- Layne Magnuson
- Gunnar Eggertson
- Rogers Sports & Media
- Saxx Underwear Co.
- Toptable Group
- Wheaton Precious Metals
- Vancouver Warriors
- Canadian Tire
- Grey Cup Committee
- The Sutton Place Revelstoke
- Colin Yakashiro
- Pacific Coastal Airlines
- Vancouver Golf Club
SPORTS CELEBRITIES
- Evan Dunfee
- Marco Iannuzzi
- Kirk McLean
- Chris Oddleifson
- Carl Valentine
- Shallon Olsen
- Bernie Pascall
- Lui Passaglia
- Lisa Roman
- Darcy Rota
- Stan Smyl
- Marco Iannuzzi
- Lori Fung
- Giulio Caravatta
- Barry Soper
SPECIAL THANKS
- Susan Wang and Matthew Williams
- Don Andrews
- Marco Iannuzzi
- Becki Allen and Coach Courtney Keith
- Karen Christiansen Events
- Patrick Roberge Productions
- Pedersen’s Event Rentals
- Temper Chocolate & Pastry
- Heritage Office Furnishings
- Vancouver Canucks Alumni
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- BC Sports Hall of Fame
- BC Lions Alumni Association