UJA’s Community Connect hosted their 6th annual BAC2Fashion charity fashion show on May 28th at the Warehouse Event Venue in Toronto. Seeking to bring more attention to seniors’ needs, and helping to improve their quality of life by connecting them to much needed resources, supports and programming allocated through UJA, BAC2Fashion raised over $55,000 at the exciting and fashion-forward event.

BAC2Fashion is a gala event featuring hors d’oeurves, sweets, cocktails, the beautiful ambient sounds of Tino Pop Violin, and most importantly, a phenomenal fashion show. This year’s event showcased eight designers and fashion providers on the runway including Over the Rainbow, Shenkin West, Intuition Toronto, Tana+Bee, Jerome’s Menswear, Sense of Independence and newcomers Jilian Dayna and Masha Apparel.

The event was spearheaded by four passionate community leader in their early 20’s: Nicole Inwentash, Carly Goldberg, Jilian Baiberg and Hannah Gofman.

“As chairs, our goals this year were to educate our community on the plight of vulnerable seniors, to engage young adults, and to raise funds for seniors and the programs which change their lives,” said Goldberg.

All funds raised from the event go towards Healthy at Home, which brings social, recreational, and educational programs directly to seniors where they live in order to reduce isolation. Proceeds also support the Holocaust Survivors Emergency fund, administered through Jewish Family and Child, which provides basic financial assistance to Holocaust Survivors.

The grandparents in our lives made sure that we grew up with an immense amount of love and support, and we want to make sure that we give that love and support right back to them and all the other seniors who need it as well,” says Naiberg, explaining the importance of the younger generation running such an important initiative.

“As young professionals, we understand the importance of getting involved in community. BAC2Fashion and other Community Connect events provide us with the platform to do so, and help demonstrate to others the importance of giving back,” adds Inwentash.

To date, UJA’s Community Connect has raised almost $250,000 to support essential programming, while simultaneously engaging hundreds of young adults in their 20’s and 30’s through volunteer work. In addition to BAC2Fashion, Community Connect works with Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni and other young Jewish adults in the Toronto community to host events such as the Hoops Basketball Tournament, the Joel Schwartz Memorial Hockey Tournament, smaller scale niche focused events (holidays, business, environment), and leadership opportunities.

For more information or to get involved, please visit www.cocotoronto.com