Children's Hospital Ice Crystal Gala, this year's sweetest event

The Children's Hospital Foundation is excited to be in person yet again for its annual Ice Crystal Gala fundraiser.

On Saturday, November 5, families will gather in a Candyland-themed event hosted at the RBC Convention Centre. This will be its sweet return to an in-person gala, rather than having it online as it was for the past two years.

"So, the Ice Crystal Gala is a family-friendly gala, it's for children and adults together. It's a formal event which is very unique in this city, there's nothing else like it. It's a gala evening in support of the children's hospital," says Alanna Babakhanians, the Ice Crystal Gala committee chair. 

Despite the last two years posing a struggle, the Ice Crystal Gala still managed to raise over $250,000 each year. This does however fall short of previous years that had the event open to the public, it has raised over $450,000 annually. Babakhanians expects a bigger outcome now that the gala is back in a physical space with doors open to Manitobans.

"Every year's had a different theme, this year's theme is Candyland. Basically, we're planning on changing the Convention Center into a life-size Candyland board game. We have big tiles that are going on the floor that actually we are selling for $500.00 if anybody is interested in putting a logo on there or even just their family names. We purchased one for our kids with their names on it, so, it's a super great way to get involved if someone wants to get involved, wants to get their logo out there, but can't be at the event. Then we've got all the fun features of Candyland going into the event."

There will also be live entertainment such as a street circus performance, Jenna Rae Cakes has sponsored a cupcake decorating station, and Winnipeg-famous chocolatier, Constance Popp will be present as well, as a massive candy bar to ensure the sugar rush.

"The funds go directly to the Children's Hospital Foundation. It's the foundation's Better Futures Campaign, which is to transform child health and research in the province. It supports innovative programs like music therapy, the infrastructure, and the revitalization of the emergency department. That's the big one this year, as well as research. In the past, they just opened up the new heart Center, which is where the funds previously went, it's quite spectacular and I know this year the hope is to do that for Emergency as well. And then there's also some of the funds go towards some specialized equipment in the Children's Hospital emergency, like special chairs and special equipment that families will need during their stays in the emergency department." 

Babakhanians has seen the impact that this fundraiser has on the children in the hospital and the families. She is a nurse who has worked in the Children's Hospital.

"I've seen a lot of what the fundraising dollars go towards and it is quite amazing. Not everybody realizes where the money goes and everybody thinks that you know, the kids get all these things, well, they have to come from somewhere, right? The foundation does so much for the Children's Hospital, they supply so many things, so many gifts, so many big-ticket items that make it feel more at home, like when the kids are in the hospital. You just can't take it away. Kids getting operated on, they go into the operating room in the little cars and you know they really try to make it as home-like as possible and a better experience for the children. Also, the technology and the cutting edge research and the cutting edge machines and whatnot that we need to support the children during these times of need."

For anyone wishing to purchase tickets or reserve a whole table, they can visit the Children's Hospital Foundation website. For anyone wishing to sponsor the event, sponsorships are still available. Applications can also be made and sent to the foundations website.

Deadline for ticket purchases, table reservations and sponsorships is Friday, October 14.