When Good Meets Fun

It’s usually very difficult to find times when good and fun coincide. Think about it… Good Grades? Comes from studying = not fun.  A Good Meal? Not so much fun paying the bill at the end. Good Morning? Only if you’re the only one that enjoys waking up on Monday mornings.

However, there are those rare occasions when Good and Fun cross paths. One of these such situations occurred on April 11th in the heart of downtown Toronto… 

 

By 9pm the house was packed, people from all over had come to join us at El Mocambo where the much  anticipated “Raise the Roof” event was taking place. The event was aimed at raising money to help build a school in Ghana for a community that had an incredible impact on my girlfriend Nadia.

The variety show was, to say the least, INCREDIBLE! There were top notch singers, a gut busting comedy troupe, and even a guy who decided to make his debut as a comedian!

When I asked Kwong-Mun why he decided to take the stage, replied simply “I like making people laugh.” And making people laugh is certainly what he did! Behind his Chinese disguise was a distinct Trinidad and Tobago accent that had the crowd roaring as he poked fun at it. Below is a video of the performance, it is a MUST watch…

Now how can it get better than having the organizer herself, Nadia, perform on stage alongside her vocally blessed friend Alison Rodrigues. With their nerves shaking as they stepped on stage, you’d actually think they were professionals as the melody began and more than words began to flow…

Alongside the show stopping performances included a latin dance off, a live and silent auction, and a raffle that rewarded people for their generosity. I had a blast being an Emcee, and am even seriously considering it as a potential “full-time” hobby one day! lol All in all though the event was exactly what we hoped for, Good Fun!

In the end Nadia raised close to $4,000 to go towards the building of the school. She is currently in contact with the headmaster of the school in Ghana, Thompson, and will keep us informed of the progress through her blog, http://contentedrestlessness.wordpress.com.

A special thanks to our sponsors P&G, Niche Espresso Bar, Mahavta Yoga, Strictly Roots, & Ryan Chan Photography; as well all those family and friends that helped make the event such a great success!

Finally, A HUGE THANK YOU to all who came out and supported the event. It was what it was because of EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!! You once again have proven how together we can change the world!

Pictures from the ‘Raise the Roof’ variety Show!!

OH YEA!

**Be sure to check out blogger John Bkila who documented the event in writing and on video!**

A Bit About El Mocambo

From the outside, El Mocambo may not be the type of building that screams at you to come in, but that’s why you should never judge a book by its cover. The inspiration begins and ends with the owner of El Mocambo, Abbas. A devout Christian, Abbas not only manages the venue, but is the driving force behind many charity events, as well as his own organization, Serving Charity. He is a passionate individual who has a heart of gold and works day and night serving others… literally. With volunteers making sandwiches before hand, Abbas loads up his car every night and roam the streets of Toronto feeding the homeless. Other inspirational actions of his include helping refugees overseas and training leaders to become better and smarter when it comes to charity. Ironically, in the weeks leading up to “Raise The Roof” I came across a video on Abbas on a site that also recently held a great initiative, Love In Action…

The Story of El Mocambo’s Owner, Abbas.  (Vide taken from http://www.loveinaction2010.org/)

Abbas was gracious enough to offer his venue for our recently held “Raise the Roof” event, and we are forever grateful for his kindness. His genuine caring for others and motivation to do good is a true inspiration.