Villa Charities Annual Gala A Huge Success
With well over $375,000 raised!!!!

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 4, 2005

On Thursday, September 29, 2005 Villa Charities presented its annual gala, The Venetian Ball with over 500 guests in attendance. Celebrating its 12th successful year, the event embodied the spirit of a Venetian Carnevale and exceeded last year's total with over $375,000 raised! This year the Ball took place at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in downtown Toronto and combined the best of delicious food and live entertainment with a very Venetian flair.

Venetian Ball Committee Co-Chairs Mr. John Appugliesi and wife Rita were at the helm of Villa Charities' signature event, and helped secure some of the evening's major sponsors including: Brampton Brick, Midland Group of Companies and Sentry Select Capital Corporation. "Several months ago, Villa Charities asked us to be the Co-Chairs of this year's Venetian Ball and we were sincerely honoured by the invitation," said Rita Appugliesi. "Over the years, we've been involved with many different charity events, but this one holds a special place because it represents our community and many of our friends," John Appugliesi added.

Rudolph P. Bratty, Chair of the Villa Charities' Foundation, was pleased that the commitment to culturally sensitive care continues with a generation of dedicated volunteers. "What's inspiring is that the same spirit continues with newer and younger faces, with new leaders- individuals such as this year's Co-Chairs, John and Rita Appugliesi - who took over the reins of organizing the Ball, explained Bratty. "In addition, we set a high bench-mark with ambitious targets this year, and their success has been nothing short of inspiring," he added.

All proceeds from the Venetian Ball go to Villa Charities - an organization dedicated to delivering culturally sensitive care through its affiliates: Villa Colombo Services for Seniors; Columbus Centre, VITA Community Living Services and Villa Colombo Vaughan.



Venetian Ball Committee Co-Chairs Giancarlo Appugliesi Rita Appugliesi Honourary Chairs Franco Palladini Elle Palladini Committee Sam Ciccolini Joyce Frustaglio Tiziana Gargari Brian Gluckstein Anthony Longo Gay Longo Alex Shnaider Simona Shnaider Joseph Zinni Nadia Zinni Honorary Advisors Angela Baldassarra Sandra Belvedere Catherine Bratty Marlene DelZotto Alma Fidani Wendy Switzer Myles

Venetian Ball Sponsors as of August 25, 2005: Zaffiro ($25,000) Brampton Brick Midland Metals Sentry Select Capital Corp. Smeraldo ($15,000) Canaccord Capital CIBC Commercial Banking Ferrari of Ontario Jasper Construction Jasper Construction Trump International Ametista ($10,000) Avante Mazda Bratty and Partners Hockley Valley Resort Masters Insurance Zentil Property Management Aquamarina ($7,500) Altus Helyar Cost Consulting Castlepoint Investments Inc. Central Ontario Regional, Carpenters Union CIBC Imperial Services CIBC Private Wealth Goldfarb Shulman Patel Highland Farms Longo Brothers Fruit Market Magna International Inc. Pusateri's Fine Foods Scotia Private Client Group TD Commercial Banking Beaver Creek Real Estate Group Toro Aluminium Universal Union Local 183

Media Contact: Adriana Suppa
Communications Manager, Villa Charities
(416) 789-7011 ext. 302
suppa@villacharities.com