MattWorld — Volunteer Charity Event Organizer (2008–2013, 2019–Current)
Ottawa’s Great Pumpkin Charity Ball
In Loving Memory
Ottawa’s Great Pumpkin Charity Ball (GPB) is an annual 750 guest Halloween fundraiser dedicated to the memory of Julie Lachance who lost her battle with cancer on October 10, 2006.
History
The Great Pumpkin Charity Ball was created in 2005 by Lise Lachance to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society while her sister Julie was sick. Matt Stepchuk joined Lise for the 2006 event which was subsequently cancelled due to Julie’s passing. After a string of larger and more successful events, Matt Stepchuk took over exclusive organization of the event in 2010 before handing over control to Cristie Vito in 2014 to travel the world. Due to health issues, management was handed from Cristi to Starfish Creative Events in 2015.
As the charities did not receive any funding in 2018, Matt handed official ownership over to St. Bridgid’s Centre for the Arts in 2019, with him returning to organize the party, reconnect the GPB community, and ensure transparency and accountability to our beloved charities.
Cancer, CADS and the Ottawa Food Bank
As Matt has been a volunteer and advocate for the Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS-NCD) since 2004, all proceeds from the charity ball are split evenly between the Canadian Cancer Society and CADS-NCD. A food bank drive was initiated for all guests attending the party in 2013. Now in it’s 14th year, the GPCB party has now raised over $80,000.
St. Brigid’s Haunted Castle
The GPB moved permanently to St. Brigid’s Haunted Castle (Centre for the Arts) in Ottawa’s Byward Market in 2009 where it has become Ottawa’s premier Friday night Halloween party with 750 colourful guests who enjoy an incredible venue with a big rock show on the main level and the Disco Dungeon, photo souvenir booth, psychic services, and “Crypt” lounge on the lower level. The beautifully restored stone work, historical artifacts, and decorations makes this an unbelievably perfect venue for this gigantic Halloween party. It’s like Dracula’s castle only brand new.
Student Volunteer Staff
The GPB has been staffed by Carleton University’s TKE fraternity, Nu Sigma Pi, Kappa Delta Beta, and Xi Delta Theta sorority members since 2008. These young volunteers set-up, staff and tear down the event and help collect prizes to satisfy mandatory volunteer hour requirements and earn donations for their designated charities (St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Cystic Fibrosis Canada in 2019).
Algonquin College’s Culinary Management Program prepares and serves incredible finger foods for the event. In recognition of this valued community partnership, the $500 Algonquin Great Pumpkin Bursary was created in 2013 for a student in the 2nd semester of the Chef Training program who actively volunteers in the community and demonstrates financial need.
Prize Donors & Corporate Sponsors
Each year the Great Pumpkin Charity Ball reaches out to Ottawa’s business community for goods and services for raffles, best costume prizes, and as rewards for exceptional effort put forward by the many student volunteers.