James Bond 007 SPECTRE x Dignitas International – An Evening of Intrigue and Inspiration

James Bond 007 SPECTRE x Dignitas International-An Evening of Intrigue

Dignitas International held its annual fundraiser with an advanced screening of the newest James Bond 007 film, “Spectre” at the IMAX Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto, followed by an after party at Drake 150 restaurant.

Dr. James Orbinski – Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Co-Founder of Dignitas

Paul Amos

Dignitas, co-founded in 2004 by Dr. James Orbinski (former president of Doctors Without Borders when it won the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize), provides medical care, research and policy in both sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Ontario. Dignitas‘ focus has been on helping the country of Malawi in providing HIV treatment and care, training local medical staff and creating programs like Option B+, which aims at eliminating mother-child HIV transmission.

In the past 11 years, Dignitas has helped 267,000 people in Malawi who are on HIV treatment.

In Canada, Dignitas has started the Aboriginal Health Partners Program to improve diabetes care in the Sioux Lookout Zone, where over 25% of the population suffers from type 2 diabetes.

The evening was hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, and was followed by speeches from Heather Johnston, President and CEO of Dignitas, and Dr. James Orbinski.

The live auction began with singer Leslie Feist‘s guitar (who attended the event with her mom) which raised $4,500.00.

The Ultimate James Bond Experience, which included 2 business class return tickets from Toronto to Aspen, a 5-night stay at a luxury home in Aspen, Colorado, a day at the track to race an Aston Martin from GTA Exotics, and his & her winter down jackets from CMFR, was sold at $21,000.

Among the other guests attending included notables and actors Gabriel Macht (Suits), Anthony Lemke, (Dark Matter), David Sutcliffe (Proof), and Natalie Brown (The Strain), Kris Holden-Ried (Lost Girl), Paul Amos (Assassin’s Creed Syndicate), Cheryl Hickey (ET Canada), Ennis Esmer (Red Oaks), Zaib Shaikh (City of Toronto Film Commissioner), and Kirstine Stewart (Twitter Canada).

Drake 150 was the site of the James Bond-themed after party where guests enjoyed classic martinis (shaken not stirred), and hors d’oeuvres like ricotta cheese with honey drizzle on a crostini, cheese and charcuterie, fried arancini balls, and chicken sliders.

Dr. James Orbinski & George Stroumboulopoulos

George Stroumboulopoulos

Dr. James Orbinski – Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Co-Founder of Dignitas

Paul Amos

Dr. James Orbinski – Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Co-Founder of Dignitas

(photos by Tanya)

James Bond SPECTRE 007 x Dignitas International-An Evening of Intrigue