Lisa Corbo isnt your average wealthy socialite, able to throw money and time at any cause she wishes.
Ive always admired people who are involved in philanthropy, but Im just a working girl, she explains.
She and her husband, George, own the eponymously titled George C clothing boutique (21 Hazelton, 416-962-1991, georgec.ca) in Yorkville.
I realized, though, that if I couldnt contribute financially at the level I wanted, maybe I could use my fashion skill to raise revenue for a cause.
Corbo is a cancer survivor herself and believes strongly that fashion and philanthropy have an important relationship.
When I was sick or when I see other people dealing with health issues, I find looking good really helps. Its just human nature for us to express ourselves. If you feel better about yourself, it makes a difference. I dont understand how people can interpret fashion as being frivolous.
On November 2, her popular fashion fundraiser, George Invites Margaret To Dinner, benefiting the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (thepmcf.ca), celebrated its fifth anniversary and hit its $1 million fundraising target.
Each year, Corbo invites an international designer to show his or her latest collection in front of an intimate audience. The runway show is preceded and followed by haute cuisine and more champagne than any reasonable person should allow themselves to drink on a Monday evening.
The gala has doubled in size over the years and soon became too big for a restaurant like Scarpetta, which hosted the first fundraiser. Corbo now takes over a sizable chunk of the AGO.
We still talk about the first event, though, she laughs. I had no idea what I was getting into. I didnt even have AV I think I used a cassette player.
Now, she counts companies like Aveda, Lancome and one of the major banks among her sponsors.
But most of my sponsors still come in around the $10,000 level, which is much less than what corporate-level donors contribute. Were a more personal event than some of the others in the city.
In the past, shes brought big names such as Derek Lam, Joseph Altuzarra and Emanuel Ungaro to Toronto. This year, she took a bit of a different approach and invited emerging British designer Zaid Affas (zaidaffas.com).
I didnt want an international, brand-oriented designer. I wanted someone more under-the-radar for Toronto. His clothes are avant-garde, but in a very sort of couture manner.
She thinks viewing the work of fashions great talents is essential to understanding the art behind clothes.
The materialistic, branded part of fashion is so big with youth today. They buy a lot, but its all disposable, she laments. Its nice to appreciate the textile and manufacturing parts of the industry. When you bring a designer and his clothing here, it helps people stop for a second and take in the craftsmanship. Thats very important.
