A joyful 10th Anniversary birthday celebration for the Avenue Road Arts School has resulted in hundreds of kids being given the opportunity to experience high-quality arts teaching. The event raised close to $25,000 for Arts for Children of Toronto, the school's charitable arm. This money will allow AFC to continue to send artists into inner city schools and to bring more and more deserving children to study at the Avenue Road Arts School on scholarship.

The party was held at The Academy of Spherical Arts on October 19th and included a silent auction, an art show and sale, kids' art activities, and live entertainment. The Honourable Bob Rae spoke eloquently about the importance of exposing all children to high quality arts experiences. Guests were invited to see a four-panel display documenting the school's history and were given the opportunity to view and buy art works created by the school's talented faculty and advanced students.

Celebrities helped to enliven the festive spirit: Andy Barrie hosted the afternoon and auctioned off a pool game with legendary film director David Cronenberg; Sharon Hampson of Sharon, Lois and Bram sang Skinamarink with the children; and David Warrack, conductor of the Canada Pops Orchestra, performed "The Avenue Road Arts School, where creativity is the rule," a song he wrote especially for the occasion. Media personality, Erica Ehm had her portrait drawn by four artists while Sam the Record Man Sniderman looked on. Instructor Pat Rose's folk singing class performed two favorite folk songs and the audience sang along. Other well-known personalities included artists Michael Snow, Charlie Pachter, Sorel Etrog and Soulpepper Theatre actor Susan Coyne who helped to draw for the numerous door prizes.

Bob Presner got top bid in a live auction to play pool with Bob Rae & David Cronenberg

Because of the overwhelming generosity of our donors, the school is considering hosting an ongoing silent auction throughout the year, on behalf of Arts for Children of Toronto. If you would like to be informed of this auction, please be sure that we have your email address. You can join our e-mail mailing list here. If you would like to donate something to this ongoing silent auction, please contact Lisa Phillips at 416 961-1502, extension 302 or at lisa@artsforchildren.org

Silent Auction Contributors
4 happy Arts School students Aboveground Art Supplies All the Best Fine Foods Andrea Sugar Angus & Company Anne Linden Aslan Mirkalami Rugman Avron Foods Bell World Betty Fogel Jewelry Bijou Restaurant Birks Bob Presner Bradgate Arms Canadian Living Magazine Carbon Computing Casablanca Kids Inc. Catherine Regehr Catherine Yolles CBC Charles Pachter CTV David P. Silcox Davids by Day Buzz by Night Dr. Lesley Corvin Du Verre Furnishings Dufflet Pastries Easton Fitness Consultants Esthetics by Noelise Eve Handbags Famous Players From the Center Pilates Studio Gap Hollace Cluny Hy & Zel's Indigo Ingram Gallery Jan Mok Jan Raeburn	Jane Forest Joan Zarry Kids Can Press Ltd. Lingerie House Literary Review of Canada Loomis Art Store Marie Kluthe Marsha Brown Martin K.I. Rumack, Barrister & Solicitor Mastermind Educational Mayta Markson Michael Kluthe Salon Mirvish Productions Monoprints Nancy L. Calder Oink! Oink! Pam Shainhouse, Pass Communications Parkers Cleaners Parkhurst Knitwear Pazzo Ristorante Raffaelo Salon & Spa ROM Silent Auction, with many unique items, helped raise money for outreach & scholarship programs	Rose Lopodowski Sadko Hadzihavanovic Sandra Ainsley Gallery Sara Jackman Saraband Scaramouche School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto Sorel Etrog Soulpepper Theatre Company Stratford Festival of Canada Stratford Summer Music Festival Studio Fontana Sue Hammond Susan Green Tafelmusik Terri Hawkins The Children's Group The Church Restaurant The Fairmont Royal York The Inn at Manitou The Rex Hotel & Jazz Bar The Royal Conservatory of Music The St. Lawrence Quartet Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club Toronto Symphony Orchestra Touchstone Manor Bed & Breakfast Tranz4m Fitness Program (Jordan Rosenberg) Windsor Arms Young Children's Creative Music & Movement Zebrano Inc.