It was an evening of charity, cheers, and tears at the 17th annual Artists for Peace and Justice gala.
Presented in partnership with Entertainment Weekly, NKPR, and more, the 2025 event included emotional performances and speeches from the likes of Fefe Dobson, Amanda Brugel, and more.
“When we started APJ in 2009, many people didn’t even know where Haiti was — a country so close to where many vacation, yet where children faced hunger and education wasn’t a priority,” NKPR founder Natasha Koifman, who serves as APJ’s Canadian and U.S. Board Chair, said on stage at the at the historic Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto on Saturday. “17 years later, it’s incredible to see Toronto still coming together with the same commitment. Our hope is that one day we will see lasting change in Haiti, and that commitment is why we are here tonight.”
Tyler Da Silva / Shutterstock
Anna Ruddick, Fefe Dobson, and Dan Kanter perform at the 2025 Artists for Peace and Justice Gala
The evening featured performances by Dobson, Kardinal Offishall, Rotimi, Paul Beaubrun, and Charmie — as well as a song from brothers William and Alexandre Osias, who graduated from the Academy for Peace and Justice (Haiti’s only free middle and secondary school, which was founded and funded by APJ).
Workin’ Moms actress Dani Kind also presented The Handmaid’s Tale star and Canada’s Drag Race judge Brugel with an award for her “unwavering dedication to advocacy and representation.”
“I was born in the right country at the right time, with access to education, clean water, healthcare, and economic stability — not only did I have a village, but my village had a village,” Brugel said during her acceptance speech. “That privilege comes with a responsibility. To me, helping others is both a practical and moral responsibility. We cannot take what we have for granted. We must work hard to create a level playing field for the children of Haiti. That is what we are here to do.”
Tyler Da Silva / Shutterstock
Amanda Brugel and Dani Kind attend the 2025 Artists for Peace and Justice Gala
Over the course of the evening, the gala raised $750,000 to support education and community-led initiatives in Haiti. Most of the funds were raised during a live auction presented by 2Fifteen Forest Hill Luxury Rentals by DBS and led by best-selling author Eric Hendrikx.
Highlights from the auction include former Toronto Blue Jays all-star José Bautista recreating his iconic bat-flip moment and celebrated artist Russell Young speaking about the inspiration behind his work.
Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly‘s free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.
Since its founding, APJ has raised more than $36 million and supported over 32,000 students through access to quality education, healthcare, and dignity. To learn more, visit www.apjnow.org or follow @artistsforpeace on Instagram and X.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
