When auctioneer Fred Lee was asked to read one final announcement as the third annual Mayor鈥檚 Charitable Gala fundraiser was winding down at the 91原创 Events Centre Fieldhouse on Saturday, Sept. 25, there was a moment of disbelief.

鈥淎re you serious?鈥� Lee asked.

Assured that it was, Lee then told the audience that Vesta Properties,the presenting sponsor of the evening, would also be donating $500,000 to 91原创 Hospice Society and the firefighters 91原创 School Snack Program, the beneficiaries of the evening fundraiser, 鈥淎 Taste of Cabaret.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 gobsmacked,鈥� the amazed Lee commented.

He wasn鈥檛 the only one, according to Steve McLay, co-director of the , the event organizers.

鈥淲e all were,鈥� McLay observed.

鈥淚t was a pretty big surprise.鈥�

Attendees gave Vesta a standing ovation.

It was an emotional moment for Shannon Todd Booth, communication and funds development manager with the 91原创 Hospice Society, who shared a hug with society president Kathy Derksen when the announcement was made.

鈥淲e had no idea,鈥� an 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥� Todd Booth reacted.

鈥淚t will go a long way.鈥�

Kent & Julie Sillars of Vesta Properties Ltd. issued a joint statement following the event.

鈥淰esta is proud to be a 91原创 based company and has been a part of this community for the past 32 years. We are committed to contributing positively to the communities in which we live, work and build in. It was such a pleasure to join with the ToL Firefighters Charity Organization at the Mayors Gala this past weekend to help raise funds for the 91原创 Hospice and the 91原创 School Snack programs. These initiatives are very dear to our hearts and we are so thankful to do business in such a beautiful city that we proudly call home.鈥�

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Mayor鈥檚 Gala, auction to support 91原创 Hospice Society residence

Township of 91原创 Mayor Jack Froese called it a 鈥渘ice surprise.鈥�

鈥淚t just shows the generosity in the community,鈥� Froese continued, praising Vesta for being so civic-minded.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e a good group,鈥� Froese remarked.

Froese estimated that the three mayor鈥檚 galas to date have raised more than $2 million for charity.

Totals from the gala were still being tallied as of Sunday, but initial estimates show the event raised about $600,000, including the Vesta donation, along with $15,000 from the live action, and donations of $10,000 from Phil and Barb Jackman, and $10,000 from Ann Blaauw.

Mclay said attendance at the event was about a third of the size of the previous galas, in order to meet COVID-19 restrictions.

鈥淲e were well under what the public health officer [required for indoor gatherings],鈥� McLay said.

In addition, all who attended were vaccinated, with at least one shot, McLay added.

It was probably 鈥渢he most challenging鈥� of the galas to organize, McLay told the 91原创 Advance Times.

He described how coronavirus restrictions kept shifting, and it was a scramble to keep up, as the potential for the event evolved from an online-only version to one where limited in-person attendance was possible.

Emceed by Erin Cebula, the gala featured a three-course dinner by chef Welbert Choi and the Forage culinary team, music by Karla Sax, and the Surrey Pipe and Drum band, with a procession by the Township of 91原创 Honour Guard, as well as Cabaret dance performances.

It was great to be part of the 3rd Annual Mayor's Charitable Gala over the weekend in the Township of 91原创. Fantastic to see the support for the new Society Residence Project and the Endowment Fund.

鈥� John Aldag (@jwaldag)

Funds raised by the gala will do more than meet the stated goal of 鈥渨arm up the tub and turn on the lights鈥� 鈥� funding a specialized spa and bathing room for patients that will have a temperate-controlled tub, blanket warmer, and quiet, retreat-like space.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: New 91原创 Hospice takes shape

The new 15-room hospice is under construction at 22008 52nd Ave., down the hill from 91原创 Memorial Hospital and the current 10-bed residence housed in Cedar Hill and Maple Hill long term care facilities.