News Release

MEDIA RELEASE – October 18, 2005

ATTN: NEWS / HEALTH / SOCIETY AND PHOTO EDITORS

BOLLYWOOD STARS LIGHT UP TRILLIUM HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION’S DIWALI FUNDRAISER

Mississauga/Etobicoke, ON – Trillium Health Centre Foundation’s Bollywood Diwali lit up the night with six glamourous stars who flew in from Mumbai for the event. The 1150 guests who attended enjoyed a visual and culinary feast highlighted by the glamourous line-up that included Akshay Kumar, who has 100 films to his credit, Lara Dutta, a former Miss Universe and Bollywood actress, co-hosts Rahul Khanna, star of ‘Hollywood Bollywood’ and Ruby Bhatia, a Mumbai TV host, and Sukhbir, the ‘Prince of Bhangra’. Ganesh Acharya, a well-known Bollywood dance choreographer, also performed.

Thanks to co-chairs Ajay Virmani, President and CEO of Cargojet/Starjet, Dr. Dalip Bhangu, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Trillium Health Centre, the organizing committee and the sponsors, including returning Platinum sponsor, AstraZeneca Canada Inc., the event raised $200,000 for Trillium.

The evening began with a cannonball of confetti and indoor fireworks, and featured fabulous entertainment provided by Divya Kumar’s dance troupe, who performed ‘Shaka Laka Baby’, Ganesh Acharya choreographed and performed the ‘Evolution of Bollywood Dance (1954-2000)’ with 12 Bollywood dancers who also flew in from India. This was followed by a stunning dance performance by the beautiful Lara Dutta. Sukhbir’s performance, including his hit song, Ishq, drew hundreds of guests to the dance floor. Akshay Kumar joined Sukhbir on stage for one song. Leaping off the stage to the dance floor, Kumar danced with one delighted guest.

The Bollywood stars were recognized and thanked throughout the evening, and received certificates of recognition from the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of State for Public Health. The Honourable Tony Valeri, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, presented Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Dr. Bhangu and Ajay Virmani with a special presentation on behalf of Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The event featured a who’s who of provincial and federal politicians as well as corporate leaders. Indian High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms. Shyamala B. Cowsik, attended as well.

In a surprise announcement, Akshay Kumar pledged a gift of $51,000 in honour of his father, who died of prostate cancer in 2000. Harold G. Shipp, a businessman and philanthropist, matched both Kumar’s gift and the $200,000 raised by the event, bringing the total amount raised for Trillium to over $500,000.

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PHOTOS AVAILABLE:

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Sally Dobie, President, Trillium Health Centre Foundation with Akshay Kumar.
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Akshay Kumar delighted the audience during the finale as he joined Sukhbir in singing the hit song, ‘Ishq’.

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Co-chairs Dr. Bhangu and Ajay Virmani joined Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Sukhbir on stage during the finale.

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Harold G. Shipp joined Akshay Kumar and Sukhbir during the finale. Shipp matched the amount raised through the event ($200,000) plus Kumar’s gift of $51,000 for Trillium Health Centre, bringing the total raised to more than $500,000.

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Mississauga’s mighty Mayor McCallion with businessman and philanthropist, Harold G. Shipp and Catharine Shipp Wells. Mayor McCallion and Harold Shipp are honourary co-chairs of Trillium’s $30 Million Fundraising Campaign. Ms. Wells is the Chair of Trillium Health Centre’s Board. With the proceeds of the Bollywood Diwali event, the capital campaign has now raised $35 Million for the hospital.

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Bill Charnetski, Vice-President Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, representing Platinum sponsor, AstraZeneca Canada Inc., enjoys a moment with Mumbai beauties, Lara Dutta and Ruby Bhatia.

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Ken White, President and CEO, Trillium Health Centre Foundation, Catharine Shipp Wells, Chair, Trillium Health Centre’s Board, and Dr. Norman Hill, Vice-President, Medical Affairs, Trillium Health Centre.

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l-r: Dr. Dalip Bhangu (co-chair), Rahul Khanna, Lara Dutta, Sukhbir, Ruby Bhatia, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Virmani (co-chair).

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Co-hosts of Trillium Health Centre Foundation’s Bollywood Diwali event, Rahul Khanna and Ruby Bhatia.

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Co-chairs Ajay Virmani (left) and Dr. Dalip Bhangu (right) watch as Lara Dutta receives special recognition from Carolyn Bennet, Minister of State (Public Health) and MP, St. Paul’s Toronto. Similar certificates were presented to all the stars who flew in from Mumbai for the Bollywood Diwali gala.

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E. Gay Mitchell, Executive Vice-President, Strategic Business Development for RBC Financial Group with Indian High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms. Shyamala B. Cowsik.

For more information:

Cynthia Lacroix, Manager Communications and Direct Marketing
(416) 259-7580 ext. 5585 or email clacroix@thc.on.ca

Media Contacts

For all media enquiries, please call Public Relations at 905-848-7580 ext. 3832.