For the 14th year, ad industry good-timers came together this month in support of the Bereaved Families of Ontario and its Big Night Out. This year more than 800 people ate, drank and were merry at the Capitol Event Theatre in Toronto, and helped to raise more than $80,000 for the not-for-profit charity, designed to help the bereaved cope with their losses.

According to Adrienne Vance, BFO’s development and communications officer, the night raised $26,800 with its live auction and $28,100 with its silent auction items, contributing to the grand total.

‘Taking into consideration the [threat of a] SAG strike, terrorist attacks and the pending recession, it wasn’t as much as last year, but better than we were expecting,’ says Vance. All proceeds go directly to BFO programs and services, such as public education and parent support.

The Big Night Out included a fashion show hosted by FashionTelevision’s Jeanne Beker and featuring a number of familiar faces from the ad industry. The Big Night Out’s honorary chair, Lesley Parrott of MacLaren McCann, was also in attendance.