The annual Dream Serenade benefit concert will return later this month for its seventh consecutive year, supporting and celebrating the community of children in Toronto with developmental and/or physical disabilities and their families and caregivers, with proceeds directed to its new COVID Family Relief Bursary.
This year, on Saturday, November 28, at 8 pm EST, Dream Serenade will look a bit different than in years past. The virtual live edition, hosted from its creators’ home, plans to retain the spirit that makes these evenings such a heartwarming and celebratory event year after year. A limited number of tickets are available to go live online via ZOOM with Dream Serenade to watch the show together in real-time.
In addition to the virtual show, Dream Serenade will be hosting a fundraising Market and online Merchandise Shop. The sale will include special packages donated by community vendors and previous event merchandise, and new special edition items. Links to these fundraising efforts and online donations can be viewed and purchased now. . All proceeds are directed back to the community, directly supporting children and families in the Greater Toronto Area.
Earlier this year, Dream Serenade created the COVID Family Relief Bursary to meet the community’s urgent needs during this challenging time. The new Bursary received over 450 applications in its first week and provided support to 144 families at 55 schools across the Greater Toronto Area. Proceeds from this year’s fundraising efforts will go towards continuing this COVID Family Relief Bursary program.
The Annual Dream Serenade Benefit Concert was created in 2014 by Toronto parents Christie Greyerbiehl and musician/songwriter Hayden Desser to thank and raise funds for their daughter’s school, Beverley Street School. The popular annual event hosted at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall has expanded to support other like-minded schools and care-centres in the GTA and raise funds that directly assist Toronto area families with a large summer camp bursary fund.
Dream Serenade has become one of Toronto’s most highly anticipated annual events, combining a celebration of a hard-working community while raising money and awareness for schools and services for children with exceptionalities and their caregivers. Past performers who have come together to celebrate this community and perform unique sets include Feist, Gord Downie, Tanya Tagaq, Broken Social Scene, Barenaked Ladies, Shad, Tom Cochrane, Billy Talent, Sarah Harmer, Bahamas, The Persuasions, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Sloan, City & Colour, Jim Cuddy, Sam Roberts, members of The National, and so many more.
