Gala Virtual Program 2024 - Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa

19^th annual Steel Toes & Stilettos Gala
Virtual Program

welcome

On behalf of the Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa Board of Directors and staff, we welcome you to the 19^th annual Steel Toes & Stilettos Gala! We are thrilled to have you here tonight to celebrate and support building better, brighter futures through affordable homeownership.

Looking at all we’ve done in 2024, there is much to celebrate with all of you. This past summer we completed our latest affordable homeownership development, Kemptville Korners in partnership with Habitat Thousand Islands. With the completion of Kemptville Korners we achieved a tremendous milestone of over 100 families served! Soon, we’ll opening the doors to our third ReStore at 250 City Centre in Hintonburg. We look forward to being in a new community and welcoming all the local shoppers, donors and volunteers to our social enterprise retailer.

As we recognize this year’s accomplishments, we know much work lies ahead. With the help of generous supporters like you, we plan to strengthen and expand access to affordable homeownership throughout Ottawa and surrounding communities. You presence tonight delivers a powerful message of affordable homeownership as the immediate and long-term solution in addressing the current housing crisis.

For the past 19 years, Habitat Greater Ottawa Gala sponsors and donors have made this evening a tremendous success, and we are grateful for your loyal support. We hope tonight’s event inspires you and reaffirms the importance of a safe and decent place to call home.

Thank you and have a fabulous evening.

Sara Cooper
CEO, Habitat Greater Ottawa

Scott Stevenson
Board Chair, Habitat Greater Ottawa

thank you to our sponsors

presenting sponsor

hope builder sponsors

roof raiser sponsors

future framer sponsors

schedule of events

6:00p.m.-7:30p.m.
cocktail reception
silent auction

7:30p.m.
emcee: Solomon Friedman
performance: Indigenous Experiences
opening remarks: Sara Cooper, CEO Habitat Greater Ottawa

7:30p.m.-8:30p.m.
dinner service
volunteer awards presentation

8:30p.m.-9:30p.m.
family presentation
live auction
50/50 draw
closing of silent auction at 9:30p.m.

9:30p.m.-12:00a.m.
after party with DJ Spanky

emcee & auctioneer

Solomon Friedman is a partner at the Ottawa-based private equity firm, Ethical Capital Partners, where he also serves as VP Compliance. Solomon is also a criminal and regulatory defence lawyer, leading the firm of Friedman Mansour LLP. He also serves as an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa, where he teaches the Law of Evidence. In his copious spare time, he is a licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor.

But that’s not the interesting part. Most importantly, Solomon is the father of three active teenagers – a 16-year-old son and two 19-year-old twins. Sadly, they are unanimously unimpressed with both his lawyering and piloting skills. Such is life.

Solomon is active in the community, giving his time to a wide variety of causes. He is a founding director of Barristers for a Better Bytown, a registered charity, which supports local charitable initiatives benefiting marginalized members of our community.

live auction items

The Ultimate Team Building Experience

A Habitat Build Day is an experience like no other! Your employees will learn useful skills as they work side-by-side in a safe environment under the leadership of experienced Habitat crew leader volunteers. We will schedule your team for a 2025 build!

While the work will be challenging, it will also be rewarding. Together your team will have fun, connect with their fellow colleagues in a truly meaningful way and leave the build site proud of their accomplishments, their co-workers and their company.

Habitat provides all of the safety equipment, such as steel-toe boots, hard hats, work gloves, etc. Lunch, coffee, snacks and water are also provided and you get to take home your own Habitat T-shirt.

The Habitat Build Day is for up to 10 employees and it is valued at $6,000.

Let’s Go Sens in Toronto

You and a guest will get to cheer on The Ottawa Senators as they challenge The Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, March 14th, 2025 in Toronto! Two seats in Section 109 level at the Scotiabank Arena.

Don’t worry about accommodations – we got you covered with a Via Rail voucher and a one night stay at the luxurious Broadview Hotel less than 10 minutes away from the arena!

A bonus CN Tower Tour is added to this package! Also a big thank you to eQ Homes for contributing to this wonderful live auction package.

Value: $1200

A Flight to Remember

Picture this: You and that special someone overlooking the gorgeous Ottawa skyline and beyond! Enjoy a memorable night out with a private one-hour airplane flight for two, piloted by the Gala’s very own Solomon Friedman!

Afterwards, enjoy some delicious fine dining with a $400 gift card to AIANA Restaurant Collective and then head over to the luxurious Andaz hotel for a relaxing one-night stay.

Leave the car at home as luxury transportation will be provided for the evening courtesy of Capital Taxi. Thank you again to eQ Homes for contributing to this package. It will be a flight – and night – to remember!

Value: $1500

Dine In Style

This delicious package includes a FOUR-course catered dinner for EIGHT people in your home courtesy of Sala San Marco. The Sala San Marco Catering services include fully licensed offsite catering featuring a delicious array of outstanding cocktail, dinner, and buffet menu options.

We’ve got your table décor taken care of with a gift card to Beaudry Flowers valued at $300.00 and drinks will also be covered for you and your guests with an $200.00 LCBO gift card.

Value: $1800