Brazilian Carnival Ball

The Brazilian Carnival Ball, casually referred to as the Braz, was an annual black tie fundraising event] in Toronto, started by Anna Maria De Souza.[1][2] The event ran from its first year in 1966 to its last in 2012. During its running, it is estimated that the event raised $60 million for a variety of causes and institutions in Canada and South America.[1]

History

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The Brazilian Carnival Ball began as a small fundraiser in 1966, the inaugural night taking place in the basement of the St. Agnes Church at Dundas and Grace Street in Toronto.[3] By 1974, the ball was taking place in the Royal York's Imperial Room.

In 2002, the ball took place in Paris, at Versailles.[4]

The final event took place on Saturday, September 15, 2012. The final night raised approximately $500,000 in support of de Souza Institute Foundation and the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO).[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "A look back at the Brazilian Ball, the annual black-tie extravaganza that taught Toronto to party". Toronto Life. August 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "Anna Maria de Souza: The shimmer in the Brazilian Ball". September 21, 2007 – via Toronto Star.
  3. ^ Levine, Allan (2014). Toronto: Biography of a City, "Chapter Eleven: This Is Where It's At". Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 978-1-77100-022-2. p. 274.
  4. ^ Coyle, Jim. "Brazilian Ball's last dance a bittersweet night". The Star. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  5. ^ "The Brazilian Carnival Ball's final hour". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 11 August 2018.