What is White Knight?

White Knight is an annual fundraising event put on by the Ron White Foundation. White Knight takes inspiration from Toronto’s incredibly successful Brazilian Ball, raising funds and awareness for a chosen charity and partnering with them.  White Knight’s goal is to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the partnering charity’s key programs, new initiatives and in general, help to move it one giant step forward. Charities are recommended by the White Knight Advisory Board.

The second annual White Knight Gala, held Thursday, May 27, 2010 at the MacDonald Family Estate, was a sold out success!  Over 400 guests wearing their all white summer cocktail attire and their most fabulous, colourful or outrageous shoes enjoyed the white carpet and champagne tent and then were invited to model their shoes for Ben Mulroney from CTV's eTALK.  The champagne continued to flow in the spectacular back garden of the MacDonald estate alongside Jamie Kennedy food stations and a bountious oyster bar from Rodney's Oysters.  Presentations at White Knight Toronto 2010 were hosted by Global TV's Leslie Roberts and included results from the first year of GO Local, Free the Children's youth empowerment program, initially funed from White Knight 2009 that supported 20 GTA schools and one pilot school in Vancouver.  The evening was capped off with fabulous entertainment that included pianist Alex Seredenko, the Canadian Tenors and Canadian legend, Andy Kim, of 'Sugar Sugar' fame who really got the guests rocking!

With the help of Presenting Sponsor RBC, over $400,000 was raised, allowing White Knight to support GO Local to a total of 60 schools in the GTA in the 2010/2011 school year, as well as providing a donation to the Canadian Museum For Human Rights in Winnipeg, Ron White's home town. 

White Knight sponsors and guests helped at-risk youth right here at home as well as raised awareness for human rights across the country - all while having a wonderful time, dressed in white with their most fabulous shoes! 

What is the Ron White Foundation?

A new registered charitable foundation that focuses on raising funds, awareness and education for human rights based issues both locally and internationally.

Founded by Ron White, a leading Canadian shoe entrepreneur (www.ronwhite.ca) with seven retail locations who is well-known for his dedication to philanthropy, and is famous for his All Day Heels®.

Over the past 13 years, through his stores, Ron has operated an annual fundraiser in partnership with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation raising thousands in support of finding a cure (Breast Cancer Fundraiser Information). The Ron White stores also run Canada’s largest Shoe Drive for the Homeless each winter and with the help of many local and international celebrities, have collected and distributed over 18,000 pairs of shoes to those in need (Shoe Drive Information).

The Ron White Foundation is a culmination of Ron’s philanthropic endeavors. Through his Foundation, Ron now rolls together his dedication to give back and make the world a better place, with his love of fashion and shoes. Taking his annual giving to the next level, Ron has assembled a talented and seasoned Advisory Board to help bring about White Knight, a fresh fundraising event.

Who is behind White Knight?

Advisory Board:

Co-Chair: Ron White, CEO & Creative Director, Ron White Shoes

Co-Chair: Jeffrey Latimer, Producer, JL Entertainment

Michael Burns, President, Wellington West Clearsight Inc.

Richard Cooper, Partner, Creative Planning Financial Group

Glenn Dixon, Host, Take This House and Sell It

Libell Geddes, Owner, The Fifth

Michael Goldberg, Partner, Minden Gross LLP

Barbara Hackett, President, Stratheden Homes Ltd.

Billie Holiday, Co-Host, VIRGIN Radio 99.9 Breakfast Show

Daniel MacDonald, President, Zephri International

Ben Mulroney, Host, etalk, CTV

Jessica Mulroney, Partner, Universal Distributions & Cosabella Canada

Robin Perry, President, R. Perry Management Inc.

John Rider, VP, Commercial Division, First Canadian Title

Leslie Roberts, Senior Editor, Anchor News Host, Global TV

Suzanne Rogers

Lee Segal, CEO, Klick Communications

Kirstine Stewart, General Manager, CBC Television English Services

Recipient Charity: Free The Children (Dalal Al-Waheidi, Executive Director)

Administration Team:

Executive Director: Terry Smith, President - Philanthropic Partnerships Inc.

Gail Cooper, Administrator, Ron White Foundation

Suzanne Dionisio, Executive Assistant to Ron White

WHITE KNIGHT HONOURARY BOARD