Our major fundraising event of the year is our Annual Gala Dinner. We designate one organization per year to receive the majority of proceeds from this lavish event, our “Charity of Choice”.
The rest of the Gala proceeds, combined with other fundraising we do through the year, support a broad range of organizations that include other charitable causes as well as giving to the Italian cultural community.
Below is a list of recent Charity of Choice recipients. Since 1994, Sons of Italy Garibaldi Lodge has given over $2,500,000 to local charities, and we have been giving for 33 years now! The list of recent recipients demonstrates our commitment to giving to a wide variety of deserving charities:
- 2025: Anne Oake Recovery Centre
- 2024: Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba
- 2023: St. Boniface Hospital Foundation – Women’s Heart Health
- 2021: Bruce Oake Memorial Foundation Inc.
- 2020: Clan Mother’s Healing Village
- 2019: Bruce Oake Memorial Foundation Inc.
- 2018: Seven Oaks General Hospital Foundation – Wellness Institute
- 2017: Holy Rosary Parish – Community Outreach Improvements
- 2016: Winnipeg Police Service Endowment Fund
- 2015: Italian Canadian League of Manitoba / Centro Caboto Project Fund
- 2014: CancerCare Manitoba
- 2013: St. Boniface Hospital Foundation / Canadian Italian Tissue Engineering Lab
- 2012: Winnipeg Harvest: Hunger for Hope
- 2011: Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba
- 2010: Amadeus Steen Foundation Inc.
- 2009: St. Paul’s High School – Bursary Fund
- 2008: Health Sciences Centre Foundation – Kleysen Centre for Surgical Innovation
- 2007: Manitoba Theatre Centre – Endowment Campaign
- 2006: Variety, The Children’s Charity
- 2005: United Way
- 2004: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
- 2003: Victoria General Hospital
Interested in becoming our 2026 Gala Charity of Choice?
If you wish to be considered for the 2026 Charity of Choice, you must apply in writing. Submissions must be received by email before May 28, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. to be considered. The submission requirements are described in the attached letter.
Please note that being accepted as the Charity of Choice carries no guarantee of funds to be received. Written applications must be received at the following email address: president@sonsofitaly.ca
If you have any questions, please send an email.