Best of the Best raises dollars for scholars
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Odette Basmaji at the Best of the Best extravaganza, which she and her husband, Joey Basmaji, helped organize at the St. James boutique hotel on May 1. He is the president of Jacob Inc. with 250 stores across Canada.
Photo by christian fleury
The fabulous St-James Hotel on St. Jacques St. was the scene of the fourth annual Best of the Best gala evening, the premiere social fundraiser for the John Molson School of Business.
Organizer Cornelia Molson reported that approximately $120,000 (net) was raised, enough for two doctoral fellowships. One of the recipients, Nathalie Spielmann (BComm 03 Marketing), was in attendance.
Also present among the 93 guests were Vice-President Ad-vancement and Alumni Relations Kathy Assayag, chair of the Board of Governors Peter Kruyt, Hans Black, Caroline and Richard Renaud, and Lillian Vineberg.
Odette and Joey Basmaji were co-chairs of the organizing committee with Dean Jerry Tomberlin.
He and President Claude Lajeunesse spoke about the importance of private involvement to maintain high standards at the JMSB. They pointed out that the imminent wave of faculty retirements underlines the need for newly minted scholars.
The event took place in the penthouse suite of the boutique hotel, and the guests were thrilled to learn that the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger had stayed there.
Along with a splendid dinner, they enjoyed a performance by four singers from the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal who sang several Broadway hits and opera selections.