On June 7, 220 Alma supporters gathered together at Old Fort York for our 8th annual party. As we have come to expect, the weather was perfect, the food spectacular, and the pisco sours invigorating! Best of all, was the chance to party with our “supporters” – a thoughtful, kind and fun group of people. See pictures here.
Before the salsa lesson, but after the ceviche, our guest of honour, Program Director Ian McGroarty gave a short review of the innovative curriculum he has created and is deploying across 23 remote communities in Peru and Bolivia. It gave us all a small glimpse into his world and the lives of the children with whom we are working.
This year we had a new lead sponsor, ReSolve Asset Management. They are a Toronto based quantitative money manager that happens to be co-founded and run by a Peruvian: Rodrigo Gordillo. Also on board as sponsors were NEI Investments, Dynamic, Fidelity Investments, canoe financial, IA Clarington, CI Financial, PIMCO, and Lysander
Of course it wouldn’t have been a party without the great food and booze! Silvia our caterer plus my wonderful friends Dan and Sue would made and served the ceviche, Lawrence and Leslie who brought back memories of Peruvian street food with anticuchos, Luis who brought authentic Bolivian saltenas, Tatiana with her home-made cinnamon rolls, and Carlos’ killer pisco sours.
I am greatfull to all the wonderful volunteers; Eleanor, Pyira, Marcela, Marisa, Sarah, Tiana, Emma and Willy. Also to Dan and Annie for inviting so many people!
Lastly and most importantly were fortunate to have an incredible volunteer party committee helping leading up to the event and very much at the night of the event. They are Carlos and Patty Paz-Soldan, Jocelyn Luk, Tara Ross, Nancy Ammari and Deborah Oakley.