2008 Brazilian Carnival Ball
May 24, 2008

The 42nd annual Brazilian Carnival Ball took place in Toronto on Saturday, May 24, 2008!! The beneficiary is the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, whose purpose is to raise and steward funds to deliver breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care at Princess Margaret Hospital. This Ball paid tribute to the nurses at Princess Margaret Hospital Based upon Rio de Janeiro's sexy and exciting Carnival, the entertainment consisted of beautiful colorful costumes, great Brazilian dancers, and the samba beat. The 2008 Brazilian Ball celebrated the remarkable spirit and life and of Anna Maria de Souza, the inspiration and founder of the Ball who sadly passed away on September 18th after a courageous battle with cancer - it is her wish for this Ball to continue to grow and support numerous worthy charities in the coming years. The mission of the Brazilian Carnival Ball is to raise money for charitable causes in the areas of education, culture, health care and research. In traditional Toronto style, the attendees were for the most part, beautifully dressed in black tie missing an opportunity to let loose. Organizers of this Ball claim that it "has raised more than $ 46 million net for numerous causes in healthcare, research, education and culture in Canada and Brazil." This beautiful event attracts more than 1,700 carnival revelers from the elite of Toronto's fashion, society, business and the arts.

This ball raised $ 2 million for the Accolade Project Faculty of Fine Arts at York University in 2006. In 2005, the Brazilian Carnival Ball raised $ 2.1M for the Toronto General Hospital - Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and in 2004, this Ball raised $2 M to support the Orthopaedic and Arthritic Institute (OAI) at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre which is an international leader in muscular skeletal and rehabilitation care with expertise in arthritis, rheumatology, spinal care, sports injuries and orthopaedic nursing.

Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation - Princess Margaret Cancer Research Hospital

"The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) is one of the top 5 comprehensive cancer centres in the world. New discoveries and innovative cancer therapies that are changing cancer care for patients globally are happening right here in Canada at Princess Margaret Hospital. Princess Margaret is a member of the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital." [www.brazilianball.com ]

This was an extemely exciting event for a great cause. For tickets for next year's Ball, check out Brazilian Carnival Ball's web site by clicking on this web page - or check back here next year for info on the 43rd Brazilian Carnival Ball 2009!!!!