The David Foster Foundationsa国际传媒檚 annual Miracle Gala and Concert that touted a celebrity guest list including Oprah Winfrey and Steven Tyler has come a long way from its roots as a softball tournament.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney said he was among those running the bases at Fostersa国际传媒檚 first fundraiser in British Columbia 30 years ago.

sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 see myself doing that now,sa国际传媒� he said at the galasa国际传媒檚 red carpet in Vancouver on Saturday. sa国际传媒淚t raised a modest amount of money, but thatsa国际传媒檚 how things go, things start that way.sa国际传媒�

The charity institution founded in 1986 by the decorated Victoria-raised music producer raises money to support the non-medical expenses of Canadian families with children undergoing or awaiting life-saving organ transplants.

Mulroney, accompanied by his wife Mila, said itsa国际传媒檚 more than their friendship with Foster that keeps them supporting the cause.

sa国际传媒淭his is going to have a lasting mark on Canadians everywhere and it does such good work so itsa国际传媒檚 worth every effort to contribute to his initiative,sa国际传媒� he said.

To date, more than 1,100 families have been supported, relieving the pressure of their mortgage payments, travel costs and other expenses.

Saturdaysa国际传媒檚 concert at Rogers Arena featured performances by Foster, Steven Tyler, The Tenors, Matteo Bocelli, Laura Bretan and B.C.sa国际传媒檚 Carly Rae Jepsen.

Jepsensa国际传媒檚 performance comes just months before she heads on tour with pop star Katy Perry.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 very proud to be supporting such an incredible event and on top of that Isa国际传媒檓 in my home town so all my family and friends are here as well,sa国际传媒� she said.

Jepsen admitted she was also star-struck by the galasa国际传媒檚 impressive lineup.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 just going to spend all night hunting for Oprah,sa国际传媒� she said.

Foster has won 16 Grammys, seven Junos, an Emmy and a Golden Globe while fetching three Oscar nominations for collaborations with stars including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli.

He is also a recipient of the Order of Canada and has a star on both the Canadian and Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Foster reflected on the achievements of the foundation ahead of the gala.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e come a long way and wesa国际传媒檙e going to continue, as long as the need is there wesa国际传媒檙e going to do it,sa国际传媒� he said.

He added that hesa国际传媒檚 bumped his goal to establish an endowment fund for the foundation from $30 million to $50 million by 2018 so that sa国际传媒渉opefully long after Isa国际传媒檓 gone itsa国际传媒檒l still be doing the work.sa国际传媒�

Michael Ravenhill, the foundationsa国际传媒檚 chief executive officer, said although the gala has grown, so has the need.

sa国际传媒淲e actually need to make a difference. We need to save more childrensa国际传媒檚 lives and keep families together,sa国际传媒� he said.

Ravenhill said less than 20 per cent of Canadians are registered organ donors.

sa国际传媒淚 think the big thing is that we still need to do a better job as a country,sa国际传媒� he said.

Linda Givetash, The Canadian Press

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