Photos: One Girl Can IWANTtoBE Gala Event

Fifth annual fundraiser provides girls in Africa the opportunity to become what they want to be

This year’s IWANTtoBE fundraiser was a night to remember. Held on Thursday, April 25 by One Girl Can—a Vancouver-based charity focused on creating gender equality through education for girls living in extreme poverty in Africa—the event raised a record-breaking $530,000.

Over 400 dynamic influencers and business leaders joined together for the fifth annual event at The Imperial in Vancouver. Local TV personality Fiona Forbes was the emcee of the evening, which was made possible by lead sponsors TD and Beedie. The surprised-filled and fast-paced night included a silent and live auction featuring two incredible African safaris, weekend getaways, and luxurious local experiences, as well as the opportunity to bid in support of girls’ education in Africa.

Guests received a gift bag from AG Hair, valued at $82, and enjoyed delicious food and beverage by Granville Island Catering. All of the proceeds raised will go towards renovating and expanding three dormitories and adjoining washrooms for Magomano Girls School in Kenya, providing600 bed spaces, as well as university scholarships for 50 new students.

See below for some of the fabulous faces who came out to support such a worthy cause…

L-R: Lotte Davis, Co-founder AG Hair & CEO and Founder of One Girl Can; John Davis, Co-Founder AG Hair; Courtney Davis, Director, Creative Execution & Ecommerce Studio, Lululemon (daughter of John and Lotte)

L-R: Lotte Davis, Co-Founder AG Hair & CEO and Founder of One Girl Can and John Davis, Co-Founder AG Hair

L-R: Irene Muinde, Program Manager, One Girl Can; Lotte Davis, Co-Founder AG Hair & CEO and Founder of One Girl Can; Kathy Wandera, One Girl Can scholarship recipient and graduate of Nairobi University (surprise guest speaker)

L-R: Michelle Matthews, CHRP, CEC Chair VP, AG Hair (One Girl Can board member) and Graham Fraser, CEO, AG Hair

L-R: Michelle Matthews, CHRP, CEC Chair VP, AG Hair (One Girl Can board member) and Irene Muinde, Program Manager, One Girl Can

L-R Athena Bax, local artist and Fiona Forbes, fundraiser emcee and reporter at Global BC News

L-R: Alvin Epp, Managing Partner, Point Nexus Ventures; Jacquie Lovelock, Wealth Advisor, TD Bank (lead sponsor); John Davis, Co-Founder AG Hair

L-R: Chris Hinton, Campaign Marketing Lead at Canada Wide Media and Johnny Alviar, Marketing Business Manager, Simply Beautiful (media sponsor)

L-R: Ryan Akhurst, Co-owner and Vice President, Akhurst Machinery & Cantek America Inc.; Jennifer Murtagh, Chief Strategy Officer, BC Women’s Hospital Foundation; Jordana Pourian, SVP Operations, Aritzia

One Girl Can Board Members L-R: Kacey Krenn, LLB Partner Harris & Company; Angie Hirata, VP Sales & Corporate Development, Active State; Natalie Nakatsuru, Director of Planning Bootlegger