Thursday November 7, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated November 8 & 11, 2024]
by Island Social Trends
A private box for the December 7 Taylor Swift concert in Vancouver is being auctioned off by the Victoria Hospitals Foundation (VHF).
One lucky bidder who wins the auction — and 13 of their friends — will have the opportunity to enjoy the December 7 performance of The Eras Tour in Vancouver— one of the final nights of the superstar’s tour.
That includes a $2,500 food and beverage credit as generously gifted to the Foundation by BC Place.
The concert is otherwise sold-out, says VHF as part of their announcement about the auction today. The auction will take place as part of the VHF Visions gala on November 16.
Proxy bidding online:
While the Visions gala live and silent auctions are restricted to guests, this private box package is also available to the public through proxy bidding online at VictoriaHF.ca/tswift up to 7 pm on November 16, 2024.
The top three proxy bids will be represented by designated bidders during the Visions live auction at 8:50 pm on November 16, 2024 — up to, and if needed, the maximum bid set.
BC Place is the donor:
“We are so grateful to BC Place for this donation; to be able to offer one very lucky bidder this sought-after opportunity will do a great amount of good for our hospitals,” shares Visions Steering Committee Chair, Charlotte Salomon, KC.
“An astounding 40% of equipment at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals is donor funded,” says Jennifer Ivanov, Communications and Media Relations, Victoria Hospitals Foundation. The foundation operates through the province’s Island Health authority.
“Our donors helps us bring innovation into our hospitals much sooner than if we were relying on government support alone,” says Ivanov.
“The strongest hospitals have the strongest philanthropy that surrounds them; every hospital in Canada has a foundation. Last year, over 6,600 donors joined in our mission to transform healthcare on the Island,” says Ivanov.
Vision annual fundraising event:
Visions is the Foundation’s annual fundraising event, and Victoria’s premiere black-tie gala. Over its 30+ year history, Visions has raised more than $13.2 million, funding that VHF says is urgently needed medical equipment at Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital.
This year’s Visions gala will support the Foundation’s latest campaign, It’s Time for Surgical Innovation, which is bringing robotics and new surgical technology to the Island.
Restrictions:
Victoria Hospitals Foundation lists these restrictions:
Tickets are valid for the December 7, 2024 Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert only.
- Includes food and beverage credit of $2,500.
- In accordance with Canada Revenue Agency regulations, if the auction purchase price exceeds the item’s fair market value by 25% or more, the purchaser is eligible for a Canadian charitable tax receipt for the portion exceeding the fair market value.
- By bidding on this package, you agree to make payment to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation before November 22, 2024.
- Purchase is non-refundable and package is non-transferable. In the event of event cancellation, the purchaser will receive a full charitable tax receipt.
Economic impact:
The Taylor Swift concert phenomenon generates a local economic boost in whatever city she performs in.
To date, the Eras Tour as become the highest-grossing concert tour and the first tour to gross over $1 billion USA in revenue, according to the Morningstar investor service, but they state that the tour will likely provide “only a modest short-term economic boost to Toronto and Vancouver”.
Local and provincial government in BC have been excited to see the economic boost for Vancouver and the province more indirectly, as through exposure of Vancouver as a future tourism destination. Short-term challenges have been the availability of short-term accommodation and transportation congestion during the December 6 to 8, 2024 Eras Tour run in Vancouver.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: BUSINESS & ECONOMY | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT