ROM’s Young Patrons’ Circle hosts 4th Annual Fundraiser on March 28, 2009
In a cold funk? The Young Patrons’ Circle (YPC) at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) has just the cure for the winter blues. Think: ocean blue. Temperatures are set to rise just as the sun sets on Saturday, March 28, 2009 for Toronto’s hottest party of the year, PROM IV: Ocean Drive.
Hosting 1,000 guests for its fourth annual fundraising event, the YPC brings Toronto cool together for Miami heat. With a breezy South Beach scene, set with equal parts glamour, and glitz—tall palm trees, white-hot cabanas, swish water effects, splashy cocktails and exhilarating entertainment included—PROM IV: Ocean Drive promises to steam up the city.
The evening begins for with an exclusive dinner with celebrity chef Mark McEwan, such a sizzling ticket that it’s already sold out. McEwan, known for his top restaurants and aptly-titled Food Network show, The Heat, is also catering the party. Cabanas held by supporting sponsors, Revolution Fitness and Puma, will be hotspots as the party playground comes alive with Miami-imported DJ Mateo from the Delano Hotel and Canada’s own Nikki-Beach-resident-export, DJ jojoflores; their sound doctoring complemented by the tempo-spiking iDrum.
“You’ll feel like you’re walking into the Delano Hotel in South Beach when you arrive at PROM: and who couldn’t use an injection of South Beach fun at this time of year?” says Jennifer Bassett, PROM Co-Chair.
Adds PROM Co-Chair, Candice Best, “Prepare to get feverish for what will be the best stay-cation this side of Miami, plus there’s a thematic connection to the ROM too. The jumping off point for the ocean-inspired theme was the imminent opening of the new Schad Gallery of Biodiversity, which will house a live coral reef.”
The PROM Gala Dinner begins at 6:30 pm in the ROM’s Canada Court. The 200 dinner guests will be treated to an exquisite menu designed by Mark McEwan. At 10 pm, DJs ignite Miami’s feverish tempo as the party spills into the beautiful Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery and soaring spaces of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. PROM revelers are encouraged to embrace South Beach’s signature look—‘hot and high style’ with glitzy, glamourous dress, featuring colours like aqua, coral and white.
Tickets for the Gala Dinner (6:30 pm) are $350 each for YPC member, $400 for non-members, and include an exclusive dinner and the party (now sold out); tickets for the Party (9:30 pm) are $125 each for YPC members, $150 for non-members. To purchase tickets, visit YPC’s PROM website at https://www.rom.on.ca/members/ypc/prom.php; or call 416.586.8003. Those joining YPC before PROM, will receive special member pricing.
Launched in November 2005, the Young Patrons’ Circle provides unique access to the ROM and the opportunity to meet other young professionals from diverse career, social and business circles—all sharing in their enthusiasm for the ROM. Currently, there are over 400 YPC members. Most members are in their 30s, but eligibility runs the range of 19 - 44 years. A single membership costs $600 for 12 months of exceptional value, while a dual gift of membership is $1,000 (partial tax receipt included for both gift levels). There are special member rates for those who have been in school full-time in the past 12 months.
YPC membership offers a host of privileges, including free access to all YPC events, several social events each year, discounted access to special ticketed nights, free admission to the Museum throughout the year and special previews for galleries and exhibitions, such as the new permanent Schad Gallery of Biodiversity (opening to the public in May 2009), whose beautiful aquarium featuring vibrant sea life served as inspiration for this year’s PROM theme. For more information on membership and the YPC’s 2009 calendar, visit: www.rom.on.ca/members/ypc or contact: 416.586.8003 or ypc@rom.on.ca.
Made up of young leaders from Toronto’s arts and business circles, the YPC Cabinet includes: Diana Arajs (Co-Chair), Greg MacKenzie (Co-Chair), Jennifer Bassett, Nancy Hoi Bertrand, Candice Best, Cawthra Burns, Michael Burns, Jimmy Chan, Justine Deluce, Marcus Doyle, Raphaela Dunlap, Cléophée Eaton, Rita Field-Marsham, Eric Jackson, Michael Mallinos, Lindsay Maskell, Mark Mulroney, Elisabeth Patrick, Karen Papazian, Claire Salisbury, Robyn Scott, Lara Teoli, Alexandra Weston and Gordon Winston.
All proceeds from YPC’s annual signature bash go to support the Royal Ontario Museum.