The Annual Gala Dinner is the Sons and Daughters of Italy, Garibaldi Lodge’s premier fundraising event. Each year, we designate one organization as our “Charity of Choice”, ensuring that the majority of Gala proceeds directly support their mission.
Beyond this primary designation, Gala funds—together with additional fundraising throughout the year—help sustain a wide range of charitable causes and also contribute to the vitality of Winnipeg’s Italian cultural community.
Since 1994, the Garibaldi Lodge has proudly raised and donated more than $5 million to local charities. This tradition of giving has demonstrated our unwavering commitment to supporting diverse and deserving organizations across Manitoba.
The list of recent Charity of Choice recipients reflects the breadth of our impact and the strength of our community’s generosity.
- 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 2027 Gala Charity of Choice?
We’d love to hear from organizations interested in making a difference. To be considered, please send us a written application no later than May 31, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
All the details about what to include in your submission can be found here. Please keep in mind that being accepted as the Charity of Choice carries no guarantee of funds to be received.
If you have any questions, please contact us.