2024 Dream Maker Auction
We are so grateful to all of our sponsors, prize donors, bidders, and volunteers who helped bring the 2024 Dream Maker Auction, presented by the Gauthier Automotive Group, to life! We are ecstatic to share that The Dream Maker Auction raised a record-smashing $1.1 million this year!
One of the biggest highlights from the event was the Cloud Carpet entrance, and what better way to be welcomed than an interview with a shark – or a frog? We’re not quite sure which, but Amber is!
Dream Kid Amber welcomed guests to the biggest event of the year dressed as her favourite animal. She was accompanied by the always sharply dressed Mark Morris, who helped her interview guests as they walked the Cloud Carpet. Watch all the ‘ribbiting’ interviews on our social media!
We kicked off the night with Jamil the DJ, who knew exactly how to build up the excitement. As our guests arrived and perused live auction lots, silent auction prizes, and swag bags, we were delighted to invite folks into the Winnipeg Kinsmen Dream Cafe, where Dream Kids displayed their artistically painted coffee mugs and guests could get their coffee fix from Empty Cup! Dream Kid Ethan was in the Cafe all evening working his sales pitch - he was a natural.
Pictured: Dream Kid Beckett was in the Kinsmen Dream Cafe showing off his artistic creation!
Before dinner, guests visited in the breathtaking event space at the RBC Convention Centre for the cocktail reception - sponsored by Bituminex Paving Ltd. A delicious dinner buffet was served, thanks to Rondex Ltd., our dinner sponsor, and guests paired it with some tasteful wine, thanks to The Pourium, our wine sponsor. There were so many items to be one, and so many incredible donors for our silent auction - thanks to Givergy, our silent auction sponsor, all bids were on a live scroll on the monitors - so you know the bidding wars were raging!
This year, we’re celebrating meeting over 1,000 Dream Kids and their families since our beginnings in 1983. We had great help celebrating from the amazing folks at Coal and Canary, who created the 1,000 Super Dreamers candle! Dream Kid Jubilee was driving candle sales through the roof at the Dream Maker Auction - and candles are still available online now!
Pictured: We celebrated meeting 1,000 Dream Kids with the 1,000 Super Dreamers Candle!
We were touched to hear from Dream Kid Drea and her family in a special video presentation. Drea’s family talked about their journey with The Dream Factory since we met them in 2019. Drea was so sick at the time, she barely wanted to talk to anyone. But when she heard about the possibility of visiting Disney World, her spirits perked up a little bit. Since then, Drea’s Dream Factory journey has been full of amazing experiences, like interviewing Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, visiting her favourite players on the Blue Bombers, and meeting her hero, WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss!
Pictured: Dream Kid Drea was accompanied to the stage by local wrestlers for her grand entrance!
Pictured: Drea and her family warmed everyone’s hearts with their incredible speech.
Drea made a fabulous grand entrance for her speech: announced as Drea the Dragon and accompanied by wrestlers with a Dream Factory championship belt, Drea was beaming. After the auction was finished, Drea hit the dance floor at the after party, presented by MJ Roofing. It was such a fun time for everyone, Dream Families and auction guests alike!
Pictured: The room was filled with Dream Makers who are passionate about bringing dreams to life!
Pictured: Dream Kid Drea walking the elegant Cloud Carpet with her family and evening emcee Mark Morris.
The Live Auction portion of the evening was a blast, bidders were battling over some incredible prizes like a trip to Chile and Taylor Swift tickets – in addition to some inspiring Dreams! Thanks to our Live Auction sponsor, Openlane, guests had a fun and competitive time bidding. Our incredible community came together with a force to support some of the strongest children in Manitoba who are facing life-threatening illnesses.
While the bidding was going on, we had lovely volunteers from our raffle sponsor, Princess Auto, selling tickets for the Dream Trip Raffle and the 50/50. Delectable desserts presented by East Kildonan Dental Group had guests’ mouths watering. During all of the action, guests could wind down at the mocktail bar, presented by Emmet Leo Homes or the Cloud Bar, presented by Bonafide Construction Solutions! Both were amazing spots to take a step back and watch the auction unfold.
We’d like to say a humongous thank you to everyone who supported the auction by sponsoring, donating prizes, bidding, and volunteering. An event like this is not possible without help from our community. Your involvement truly means the world!
We were thrilled to announce that The Dream Factory is moving! In the works is an incredible new space that will be a place of comfort, celebration, and fun for Dream Kids and their families.
We’d also like to give tremendous thanks to Mr. Jim Gauthier and the Gauthier Automotive Group for continuing to be a leading force in The Dream Factory’s growth - not only by returning once again as the presenting sponsor of the Dream Maker Auction, but by also announcing a $250,000 gift in support of a new, child-centric home for The Dream Factory. Keep an eye out for more details on the NEW Dream Factory!
Finally, we’d like to extend an extra special thank you to our incredible Dream Maker Auction committee. Kate, Alysha, Bret, Chris, Dan, Dennis, Fabricio, Haley, Jeff, Katrina, Kyle, Marc, and Mike – the countless hours each of you poured into this year’s event helped make it the smashing success that it became. We are so grateful to each of you!
Until next year!