“How can they sleep at night knowing the $20,000 they’re taking would otherwise go to help save children’s lives?”

That’s the refrain Elisabeth Linton kept repeating as she talked about her struggles with Woodbridge’s Paramount Eventspace during the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the drastic reorganization of society it’s caused.

It was on March 16 that the Sanfilippo Children’s Research Foundation (SCRF), the charity Linton runs in memory of her daughter, Elisa, who died of the rare syndrome a few years ago, learned that the gala they’d been planning for April 23 could no longer run because of COVID-19 and would have to be rescheduled.

However, when Linton called the Rowntree Dairy Road venue, which has been “nothing but amazing” helping the charity in the past, to discuss how to deal with the situation, she was given the terrible news.

In no uncertain terms, Linton was told that should SCRF not reschedule the event at the Paramount before Dec. 31, 2020, the charity, which she runs for free out of her basement, would not be refunded the $20,000 it paid Paramount’s owners, byPeterandPauls, as a down payment in 2019.

The problem for Linton, who lives in North York, is that the organization cannot run the event without the 100 or so volunteers who usually step up but won’t be available in the fall.

Furthermore, the star they had booked to perform, world-renowned singer and Canadian Hall of Fame member Andy Kim, won’t be available at that time.

“The main reason is Andy isn’t available this fall and they had the nerve to say, ‘Well, go get different entertainment,' but the entire event revolves around Andy being available,” she added.

The charity’s other events throughout the year prohibit it from organizing the gala near the fall golf tournament, that could also be under threat due to the virus.

“I think it’s ridiculous – how can you do this to a small charity?” she questioned. “The character of an individual or an organization comes to light and shines when times get tough. Right now I'd say their character is far from shining. It is dark and gloomy.