The Bereaved Families of Ontario will hold its annual Big Night Out this year on Nov. 1 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. Although the event is open to all who wish to attend, the Big Night Out has traditionally been a favorite cause of Toronto’s commercial production and advertising industries, thanks in large part to the continued involvement of MacLaren McCann’s Lesley Parrott.

‘It absolutely surprises me how each year there is another level of support,’ says Parrott. ‘People always say to me, ‘This is the nicest industry event of the year,’ even though it is not an industry event. People are there just as themselves and it isn’t a schmoozefest. It is about being able to give to something people like.’

The bfo is a charitable organization that helps families cope with the loss of a loved one. It has been doing so since 1978. The organization receives no federal, provincial or United Way funding, instead depending largely on voluntary charitable donations and fundraisers like the Big Night Out.

Last year, the event raised approximately $113,000. Organizers are hoping for similar results this year.

‘I would say this is our signature event,’ says bfo development officer Adrienne Vance. ‘Out of our entire [annual] operating budget, I think this brings in anywhere from a third to a half of it. We are a fairly small organization as far as staff. We are largely volunteer-driven so our overhead costs are not that high.’

The evening features live and silent auctions. This year, says Vance, some of the items on the block will be a night in a corporate box for a Toronto Raptors basketball game, platinum tickets to a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game and a Hugo Boss tie, donated by cbc’s Peter Mansbridge.

‘I got a letter from him saying he is sending us his favorite lucky tie. He is not quite sure what he is going to do without it, but he felt he could give it up for a good cause,’ says Vance.

As always there will also be plenty of live music, dancing, food and drink and a number of casino-style gambling tables, with all proceeds going directly to the bfo.

For those interested in becoming a sponsor, making a donation or purchasing tickets for the event, call Vance at (416) 440-0290, or Optix’s Claire Baddeley at (416) 214-9911.

There is no word yet if Imported Artists’ Richard D’Alessio will be singing again this year. *