A record crowd packed the Mayor's Charity Gala in Guildford on Friday night to raise funds for charity.
The mayor's office is estimating between $130,000 and $140,000 was raised for the Surrey Firefighters' Charitable Society at the Monte Carlo-themed event, held at the 104 Avenue Centre on Sept. 7.
The society raises funds for several initiatives including relief from poverty, medical research and community programs helping kids to stay in school.
Funds from this year's event are also benefitting Sophie's Place.
Located within the Centre for Child Development building in Surrey, Sophie's Place provides physically, mentally and sexually abused children up to the age of 18 years with professional, compassionate and nurturing service from doctors, police and counsellors – all under one roof.
The facility's namesake – Sophie Tweed-Simmons, daughter of KISS frontman Gene Simmons – became involved in Sophie's Place after a meeting with Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts.
She and her brother Nick Tweed-Simmons were the headline performers at the mayor's gala, while several auctions drew large funds for the firefighters' society, including a luxury trip to Monte Carlo and two dinners with mayor and council which went for $16,000 apiece.