Celebrating 12 Years of Community

On April 12, 2025, we proudly hosted our 12th annual A Night In Africa Gala - an unforgettable evening held at the stunning Science North Vale Cavern in Sudbury, ON. We were honoured to welcome 200 guests who came together to support our mission of care, hope, and healing for children and youth who have faced abuse and abandonment.

The evening was beautifully catered by the talented team at Boy Gorgeous, who brought the spirit of African cuisine to life with a menu full of flavour.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Sylvie Lamarche Lacroix, Roland Rehhorn and Amy-Médéa Chartier, and family for their generous donation of silent auction items and photography used in several activities, thoughtfully collected during their travels across East Africa and South Africa. Each item was chosen with love, care, and deep appreciation for African arts and culture.

The evening’s success was made possible by our incredible planning committee:
Rebecca Ritchie, Lauren Knox, Sylvie Lamarche Lacroix, Jacqueline Villeneuve, Guy and Darlene Villeneuve, and Sylvia Kempson—whose vision, passion, and dedication brought the event to life.

We additionally thank Sylvia Kempson, Amy K Designs, and Becca Ritchie for the coordination of items to enrich our silent auction.

We share our gratitude to Kay-So the MC for guiding our evening and providing laughter, compassion, and story which made for an unforgettable evening. To our volunteers: thank you. Your support running the silent auction, games, activities, pop-up market, and welcoming guests helped create a seamless, joyful experience for everyone in attendance! We also thank our talented performers, Young Talented and Big Moves Dance Academy, for entertaining guests with dance and song.

Finally, to our sponsors - the evening would not be possible without your support. You have seen the heart of our organization since 2013, and supported us since we opened our doors. To our corporate donors: DROCOR and OCP Construction Supplies (Silver Sponsors), Greg MacDonald Equipment, TruStone Financial, Technica Mining (Bronze Sponsors), Villeneuve Financial Consulting and Allain Labelle (Builder Sponsors), and Vitto Brand Foods, Smiths Market, Ode’imin Design Studio, and Boy Gorgeous Catering (In-Kind Sponsors).

The Impact

Thanks to your generosity, we raised $25,000—funds that are now directly supporting:

Salaries for five dedicated team members in Kenya throughout 2025
More than 1,000 nourishing meals and snacks for children at ZLT Hope Homes
Zero overhead in Canada, made possible by our all-volunteer team

Together, we are creating brighter futures for children in youth in Kenya.

A Look Back to 2024

Our 11th Annual A Night In Africa Gala was a night to remember, filled with vibrant performances, stunning fashion, delicious food, and a shared mission to make a positive impact in the lives of children and youth in Nairobi, Kenya.

We thank our donors and guests for coming together to raise $35,000 to support the ZLT family.