BC BUSINESS: An Evening to Bring Back Hope Gala raises $2 million for spinal patients
An Evening to Bring Back Hope Gala raises $2 million for spinal patients
By Paul Duchart / June 11, 2017
A sold-out crowd of 850 attended the 2017 Bring Back Hope gala at the Vancouver Convention Centre on June 8. The event raised $2 million* in support of the extraordinary humanitarian work of Dr. Rick Hodes and a building partnership with the UBC Branch for International Surgical Care.
This year’s gala honoured Dr. Rick Hodes, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) medical director, and Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, founder of the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS). Global National Weekend anchor Robin Gill was the emcee, and Peter Legge, Canada Wide Media chairman and CEO, interviewed Dr. Hodes and Dr. Boachie on stage. Gala co-chairs were Gary Segal and his wife, Nanci. Guests enjoyed a musical performance by musician Moël and an entertaining auction by Howard Blank, Point Blank Entertainment principal.
Gary Segal launched the Bring Back Hope Initiative for Ethiopia after meeting Dr. Rick Hodes in order to support Rick’s humanitarian mission and to create hope for the hundreds of spinal cord patients that would otherwise be doomed to suffer an early death without the intervention of Dr. Hodes and Dr. Boachie.
The life-saving partnership between Dr. Hodes, an observant Jew, and Dr. Boachie, a devoted Baptist, is an inspiring story and an uplifting example of caring people joining together and using their faith for the good of humanity, regardless of colour, creed, religion or ethnicity.