This story was updated
An inspiring evening of storytelling and entertainment was promised during another SACH A Worthy Cause gala in Newton.
South Asian Community Hub, or SACH, held its second annual fundraising event Friday, May 2, at Crown Palace Banquet Hall on Nordel Way, where Senator Baltej Singh Dhillon delivered the keynote speech.
A year ago, the non-profit SACH held its first such gala to raise funds to help people facing health and social challenges, and for a second year the sold-out SACH A Worthy Cause event attracted close to 500 attendees.
Key donations included $100,000 from the B.C. government, $15,000 from Islamic Relief Canada, $7,500 from Pacific Hospitality Inc., $5,000 from Foundation for a Path Forward and $2,500 from A-Class Autobody & Glass, among others.
Event tckets were sold for $150 on sachbc.ca/events/2025-annual-gala, or $1,000 for a table of eight.
"We are so grateful to everyone who has shown us their confidence and belief in our vision by not only attending the gala but by personally donating to our cause," said Daljit Gill-Badesha, SACH executive director.
"When individuals, businesses, governments and faith organizations attend, donate and ask to join our movement, we feel reassured that we are on the right path, and we have the community support backing our efforts. This gives us more courage to continue creating safe and transformative spaces for social change. We are deeply honoured by the support for SACH a Worthy Cause.”
With a name that means "truth" in Punjabi, SACH was formed in 2020 to address mental health, addictions, poverty and homelessness in the South Asian community.
"People were hurting. Language barriers and complex systems kept them from accessing vital services," recalls Harman S. Pandher, board chair. "Five years later, SACH's work to eliminate these barriers is as important as ever. But we urgently need the community's support."
Guest speaker at the May 2 gala, Baltej Singh Dhillon is a retired career police officer, community leader and a lifelong advocate for diversity and inclusion. Emigrating from Malaysia in 1983, Dhillon made history in 1991 as the first RCMP officer to wear a turban.
