BC Place Community Benefit Program raises approximately $2 million for charitable causes across B.C. through Taylor Swift The Eras Tour donations
December 10th, 2024
VANCOUVER, BC (December 10, 2024) – PavCo is proud to announce that the BC Place Community Benefit Program has raised approximately $2 million for vital charitable causes across British Columbia by donating four suites and more than 100 tickets to the Taylor Swift The Eras Tour shows from December 6-8, 2024.
The BC Place Community Benefit Program officially launched in October and saw a suite donated to four of the largest fundraising charity galas: the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Ball, the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Vitality Gala, the Victoria Hospitals Foundation Visions Gala, and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Crystal Ball. As a result of the donations, the BC Place Community Benefit Program has raised approximately $1.98 million to date, with some additional fundraising still to be reported.
“The BC Place Community Benefit Program shows the commitment of PavCo to delivering on its mandate of community benefit for the people of B.C. and spreading the benefits of owning a world-class stadium across the province,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “While the major amounts raised at a few major galas drew the headlines, this program also supported small but vital charities far and wide in B.C.”
“The amount raised through our BC Place Community Benefit Program for charities across British Columbia – both large and small – exceeded even our wildest dreams,” said Chris May, General Manager at BC Place. “At PavCo, we know we have a unique opportunity for our organization to have a meaningful impact. What we’ve helped make happen over the past couple of months shows our commitment to supporting important causes across British Columbia, building community, fostering inclusivity and embodying social responsibility”.
“Community benefit is not only integral to our mandate, it is at the heart of what we do at PavCo,” said Ken Cretney, President and CEO at PavCo. “We are exceptionally proud to have achieved such wonderful success with the BC Place Community Benefit Program, it exemplifies our commitment to giving back and making a significant difference in the community”.
The BC Place Community Benefit Program empowers BC-registered charities to raise critical funds by leveraging the stadium’s unique assets. Details about the 2025 BC Place Community Benefit Program will be released in early 2025.
Community Benefit Program Testimonials
“We are deeply grateful to BC Place and PavCo for their incredible donation of a private suite for the final show of The Eras Tour. This extraordinary gift raised $320,000 for health care innovation in BC – our largest auction item ever and a true highlight of the year. Donations like this enable VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to fund BC’s most specialized adult health care, bringing the best doctors, equipment, and lifesaving care to people across the province.”
- VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation:
“We are so grateful to PavCo and the BC Place Community Benefit Program for their generous donation of tickets to the Eras Tour. It was an unexpected gift that made a huge impact on the Foundation and the fundraising we were able to achieve at our Spirit Gala. To be able to tag on to the excitement that Taylor Swift coming to Vancouver has generated, added an element of fun to our Auctions. We know that the community values and supports our hospital because those two tickets were sold and re-donated TWICE, raising $30,250 towards our campaign total, money that will have a real impact on our hospital and our community. Thank you.”
- Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation
“Canuck Place Children’s Hospice is deeply grateful for the support of the BC Place Community Benefit Program. Their generous donation of Taylor Swift tickets to our 2024 Gift of Time Gala helped us raise approximately $50,000 to support our provincial pediatric palliative care program. With the support of generous donors like the BC Place Community Benefit Program, we ensure the rest of that story is the very best it can be. Thank you for giving short lives the gift of great days.”
- Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
“To receive the Taylor Swift tickets from the BC Place Community Benefit Program was a great honour for the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation – and for the community, it created a lot of excitement, chatter, and anticipation. As a community located in the northeast corner of the province, it is important for us to feel ties to the rest of the province, highlighting that we matter in some small way. The Taylor Swift tickets were a wonderful addition to the Be An Angel Gala line-up, raising $6,000 in support of the FSJ Hospital Foundation.”
- Fort St. John Hospital Foundation
"The tickets donated to Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland for the spectacular Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour was one of the most exciting and successful items at Big Sisters Soirée Live Auction. The tickets raised an incredible $10,000, making a significant contribution to our efforts to support life-changing mentorship for youth in our community. The funds raised will help us continue to empower and guide our Little Sisters, providing them with the tools and resources they need to unlock their full potential. We are deeply grateful to PavCo for its generosity and for being a key partner in advancing the mission of Big Sisters."
- Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland
“With their generous donation of Taylor Swift tickets to Special Olympics BC’s Sports Celebrities Festival silent auction, the BC Place Community Benefit Program created vital support for Special Olympic BC's year-round sport, youth and health programs for people with intellectual disabilities. The auction proceeds provide vital support for Special Olympics BC’s life-changing sport programs in 55 communities across the province. Special Olympics BC is grateful for PavCo’s commitment to giving back and for their role in empowering Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities to be seen for their abilities and reach their full potential.”
- Special Olympics BC
“We are so grateful to BC Place for the donation of Taylor Swift tickets to our Gala Live Auction in October 2024. Music Heals Charitable Foundation raises funds for music therapy programs across British Columbia and through the incredible gift from the BC Place Community Benefit Program, you have helped us to bring the healing power of music to children, youth and adults in need. With your support, we can provide crucial funding for music therapy programs for people of all ages and abilities across the province in 2025. Thank you for believing in the healing power of music!”
- Music Heals Charitable Foundation
"The BC Place Community Benefit Program’s donation of the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour tickets created a wonderful opportunity for Hope and Health to raise critical funds that went towards our community-based programming for Indigenous children and youth in BC. For this winter season, the funds also supported our ‘Santa on the Pitch’ initiative, building 600+ stockings filled with essential items, toys and treats for these children and youth. Thank you to BC Place and PavCo for helping us to keep the Hope and Health magic going and growing.”
- Hope and Health Society
“In these challenging times, when more families are struggling to make ends meet, donations such as those raised through the BC Place Community Benefit Program are all important. These generous donations help the Greater Vancouver Food Bank provide healthy food to more than 15,000 people each month, through the holiday season and beyond. Thank you to the BC Place Community Benefit Program and the people behind it for making it possible and helping those in need.”
- Greater Vancouver Food Bank
"The BC Place Community Benefit Program hugely helped our end-of-year fundraising efforts during our busy holiday season. Food Stash Foundation raised about $15,000 to help get nutritious food to people who need and appreciate it. It was also an absolute pleasure to be able to offer the chance to go to a Taylor Swift Concert to two lucky folks in the community! Thank you so much to the BC Place Community Benefit/PavCo Team."
- Food Stash Foundation
“We want to share our gratitude with PavCo and the BC Place Community Benefit Program for their generous donation of tickets to the iconic Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. We were able to raise $8,500, which will help transform the lives of BC children with disabilities and complex health needs. This program symbolizes how one act of generosity can impact many and we’re so thankful.”
- The Children's Charity of BC
“We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of PavCo and the BC Place Community Benefit Program. The donation of Taylor Swift tickets was a tremendous success, helping us raise $12,000 for urgently needed medical equipment for our hospitals in the Eastern Fraser Valley ... this support makes a real difference in meeting the needs of our expanding population, ensuring better care for everyone in our region. Thank you for investing in the health and well-being of our community!”
- Fraser Valley Healthcare Foundation
“We can’t thank the BC Place Community Benefit Program enough for your extraordinary donation of two tickets to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour for our Gala’s live auction! These coveted, sold-out tickets raised an incredible $27,000, setting a new record for our event! This generous support will directly fund the purchase of new and advanced medical equipment and technology for Burnaby Hospital’s redevelopment, ensuring our medical teams have the best tools to match the new, modern spaces being built. With more than 200,000 patients depending on our hospital each year, this donation is not only a gift to our charity but to the entire community. Thank you for helping ensure we can deliver state-of-the-art healthcare that will meet the growing needs of our region for years to come!”
- Burnaby Hospital Foundation
“We’re so grateful to the BC Place Community Benefit Program for supporting KidSport BC with tickets to Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. The funds we raised from our online silent auction will help fund a season of sport for approximately 20 kids. It’s been another record year for our granting program, which is on track to fund 10,000 kids and distribute more than $3M this year. The support from the BC Place Community Benefit Program is helping ensure we can meet this unprecedented demand.”
- KidSport BC
“Mission Possible is so thankful to BC Place and PavCo for their generous donation of two Taylor Swift tickets to our 16th Annual Gala. The funds that were raised from their donation will help transform lives through meaningful work for people who face barriers to entering the workforce. Not only did their donation support our Employment Readiness Program, but it helped us surpass our goal for the gala making it our most successful event in our 32 years. We are grateful to have had this opportunity to make a difference in our Downtown Eastside community, and fulfill the dreams of one of our supporters as well!”
- Mission Possible
“We are grateful to BC PavCo and the BC Place Community Benefit Program for donating two lower bowl tickets to the sold-out Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in Vancouver. Their generous and coveted donation brought generations and families together to engage in inspiring philanthropy, raising funds to help enhance health care access and services for individuals and families in Richmond. Thank you for supporting health care in Richmond and for making a positive impact in our community."
- Richmond Hospital Foundation
“Thank you again to PavCo and the BC Place Community Benefit Program for donating Taylor Swift tickets to Canucks Autism Network. Because of your generous support, we were able to raise over $17,000 with the tickets through our online CAN Pro-Am auction. Because of your incredible support, you are helping CAN give families a sense of community where they feel supported, accepted and understood.”
- Canucks Autism Network
“The generous donation of highly sought-after tickets to the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour from PavCo through the BC Place Community Benefit Program, brought an incredible burst of energy and excitement to Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Moonlight Gala. The appeal of these tickets significantly boosted public participation and attracted a wider audience to our online fundraising activities, expanding our organization’s reach and impact. In addition to the tickets raising $10,075 in our online auction, the increase of new donors who visited the site and then supported in various ways, played a crucial role in helping us achieve our record-breaking fundraising total of $1.391 million. Being chosen for such a special donation, in recognition of the work we do for the Delta community, was both an honour and a deeply meaningful experience. We are truly grateful for this invaluable support from PavCo.”
- Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation
“With the donation of two Taylor Swift tickets and the funds subsequently raised through auctioning them off, Power To Be is able to further our mission of nature access for all. This means that youth, families, and adults living with complex barriers can experience the transformational power of nature, while exploring who they are and what they are capable of in an inclusive environment.”
- Power To Be
“Thank you for your incredible donation of the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour to the InspireHealth A Night to Inspire Gala. Your generosity not only added excitement to our event but directly supported InspireHealth’s mission to provide integrative care for cancer patients and their families across British Columbia. Your contribution makes a profound impact, inspiring hope for those navigating their cancer journey.”
- InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care
“During this holiday season, we’re especially grateful for the generous gift of a silent auction item from the BC Place Community Benefit Program/PavCo – a pair of Taylor Swift concert tickets which generated almost $14,000 in support of the vital services provided to child victims of abuse at Sophie’s Place. Sophie’s Place is a collaborative team of police, victim services workers, and social workers that help victims of physical and/or sexual abuse (up to age 15) in a safe and compassionate environment, reducing trauma while fostering trust, healing, and resilience.”
- Sophie’s Place Child and Youth Advocacy Centre
“Decoda Literacy Solutions is BC’s literacy organization, working toward a vision of a British Columbia where everyone has the literacy skills to thrive in their communities. As a small charity, your generous donation has had a significant impact, helping us raise $13,447 to support adult learners facing financial barriers to attending their literacy programs. These funds will more than double the annual distribution from the PACE Bursary Trust held at Vancouver Foundation, which provides short-term financial support for essentials like bus fare, childcare and books. This support makes it possible for learners to access programs that change lives. Thanks to the BC Place Community Benefit Program, learners will be empowered to overcome barriers and work toward a brighter future. On behalf of the adult learners and communities we serve, thank you for making this possible!”
- Decoda Literacy Solutions
“Thank you to your kind and generous donation of 2 Taylor Swift tickets to the Canadian Liver Foundation's LIVERight Gala! We live-auctioned the two tickets and they brought in $16,000! Your kindness is truly making a difference in the communities we serve. It’s helping us promote liver health, spread awareness, and provide compassionate care to those affected by liver disease. Thanks to your generosity, you are empowering patients to improve their liver health. I cannot thank you enough!”
- Canadian Liver Foundation (BC and Yukon Chapter)
“The generous donation of Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets through the BC Place Community Benefit Program has raised an incredible $13,000 for the Dr. Peter Centre at the Passions Gala Live Auction. These funds will directly support our comprehensive care programs that serve over 500 participants annually who are living with HIV/AIDS, mental health challenges, substance use, and homelessness. We are deeply grateful to PavCo and the BC Place Community Benefit Program for their support in helping us transform lives through healthcare and humanity.”
- Dr. Peter Centre
“We are honoured and humbled to have partnered with the BC Place Community Benefit Program and PavCo. The extraordinary gift of Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets allowed Arts Umbrella to raise an additional $44,000 at Splash, our annual charitable art auction event. Funds raised at Splash allow Arts Umbrella to provide children and youth with increased access to high-calibre arts education for those who would benefit the most.”
- Arts Umbrella
“Knowing that this is more than just a concert – it’s a magical experience that will have you singing ‘Love Story’ after ‘Cardigan’. The best part was knowing that every bid on these tickets, was not just securing two spots at the concert – they were also supporting the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation's mission to provide essential tools and the most up-to-date equipment to our hospital. The proceeds from this auction will help ensure that we can continue to deliver the best care possible and promote health and wellness in our communities as wellness will ‘never go out of style!’”
- Ridge Meadows Health Foundation
“The extremely generous donation of the Eras Tour tickets was just what we needed to elevate our Live Auction to the next level! As soon as our guests saw the surprise item, their eyes widened, and jaws dropped! We are beyond grateful to have been chosen to receive this incredible donation and were able to secure much-needed funds for urgently needed medical equipment at the Langley Memorial Hospital.”
- Langley Community Health & Hospital Foundation
“The BC Place Community Benefit Program's generous donation for the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour raffle has made a tremendous impact on SHARE Family and Community Services' fundraising efforts this holiday season. Through this raffle, we’ve been able to rally support from our community to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families in need. The funds raised are supporting SHARE’s Holiday Toy Shop and Food Hamper Programs. Thanks to BC Place and everyone who participated in the raffle, SHARE can bring hope and joy to thousands of children and teens in need this holiday season. Your support truly makes a difference!”
- SHARE Family and Community Services
“The Taylor Swift ticket auction raised $9,999 for the equipment loan program of the ALS Society of BC. Our equipment loan program is designed to help ALS patients with the daily challenges of decreasing mobility and independence. We provide mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, lifts, beds and accessories, bathroom aids, and communication devices at no cost to ALS patients. The funds raised from the auction will be used to purchase one Obi feeder, which costs $9,998. This assistive technology provides an independent dining experience for ALS patients with impaired upper extremity motor control. On behalf of the ALS Society of BC board, staff, volunteers, ALS patients and their families, I want to thank BC Place for supporting our ALS patient equipment loan program. We hope for more partnerships in the future. More power to your organization!”
- ALS Society of BC
“We are so grateful to BC Place for this donation; to be able to offer a private suite and tickets to Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour concert has done a great amount of good for our Victoria hospitals. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity sparked a wave of excitement that rippled through our team, gala committee, and community – and now, through impact that will be felt within our hospitals for years to come. The live auction package raised an incredible $260,000 during our signature Visions gala, helping the event raise a record-breaking $2.5 million. The funds raised will directly support advancements in surgical care on Vancouver Island, enabling our hospitals to deliver leading-edge treatments and better outcomes for patients across the region. We offer our profound thanks to PavCo and BC Place.“
- Victoria Hospitals Foundation
“We are deeply grateful to BC Place and PavCo for their generous donation of a suite to the Eras Tour at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s 38th Annual Crystal Ball. This exceptional package delighted our guests and raised a record-breaking $290,000 to advance the Clinical Trials Super Hub at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. These funds will help enable experts to deliver clinical trials closer to home and equip experts with the resources needed to bring the world’s most innovative treatments to kids across BC and the Yukon. This powerful support has opened possibilities to advance children’s health care.”
- BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
“The generous donations from the BC Place Community Benefit program come at such a critical time for our sector and we can't thank you enough for everything you did to make this possible. PavCo's leadership in demonstrating a commitment to supporting local and provincial causes is exemplary.”
- Food Banks BC