Fullscript’s Kyle Braatz, Rachel Braatz announce $2M donation to Senators Community Foundation at gala
If last night’s Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala had been a hockey game, it would have left you with enough game highlights to replay in your mind for days to come.
It really was that memorable.
Fullscript co-founder and CEO Kyle Braatz, along with his wife Rachel, announced a $2-million donation to the Senators Community Foundation, complete with an exciting burst of red confetti.
“We just want to inspire others to just do a little bit more, as well,” explained Kyle while sharing the news.
Fullscript, an Ottawa-based healthcare platform focused on whole-person care, was the title sponsor of the gala, held for its first time at Rogers Centre Ottawa (its Canada Hall arguably never looked better than it did that night).
The gift from the Braatz family will benefit CHEO Foundation’s Kids These Days community campaign, which Kyle and Rachel are helping to co-chair, and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund to support underfunded cancer research in the region. Griffin passed away last March, just shy of turning seven. Kyle recalled how inspired he’d been, seeing the little guy run around the Canadian Tire Centre with “that huge smile on his face, fighting like a champion”.
Another gala highlight-reel moment: watching Griffin’s parents, Evan and Tamy Bell, hug the Braatzes following the gift announcement.
The evening raised more than $780,000 in support of children and youth in our region.
Team mascot Spartacat lends a hand with the confetti cannon following the major gift announcement made by the Braatz family at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Kyle Braatz and Evan Bell seen hugging while, right behind them Rachel Braatz and Tami Bell are doing likewise, following the Braatzes announcement of a $2-million gift, half of which will go to the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund named in honour of the Bells’ late son, Griffin Bell. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The presenting sponsor was Canadian telecommunications company Bell — a partner since the gala’s inception many years ago. It was represented by Sandy McDonald, regional director of community affairs. Other major sponsors included Accora Village, PCL, Canadian Bank Note (BUMP), Andlauer Healthcare Group, CLV Group, Molson and Richcraft.
Claire Hanna, local sports reporter for TSN, was terrific as the evening emcee, and there were repeated shout-outs to Senators Community Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito, director Jennifer Cameron and their team for their tireless work in bringing the gala to life.
Sandy McDonald from presenting sponsor Bell and her husband Bob McDonald at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
TSN sports reporter Claire Hanna served as emcee at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala, held at Roger Centre Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk congratulated the kids from the Churchill Alternative School Choir following their exciting performance at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala, held Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Jacqueline Belsito, president of the Senators Community Foundation, and Jennifer Cameron, director of events and fundraising relationships, at the hockey club’s signature Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala held at Rogers Centre Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
While many in attendance shared a passion for hockey, what brought them together that night was their commitment to children in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
The true stars of the evening were the kids. A pair of youth, guided by Senators’ head coach Travis Green, read out the lineup for players in attendance (and when in doubt, just pronounce the team captain’s name as Brady “Ketchup”, as little Tessa does).
The rock-and-roll performance by youth from the Churchill Alternative School Choir brought a level of energy and excitement that only auctioneer Ryan Watson from Raising the Bid could match with his rousing calls of “Someone say yeah, someone say oh yeah!”
Together, the live auction items raised well over $100,000.
Head Coach Travis Green from the Ottawa Senators on stage with Tessa, Adam and team mascot Spartacat to read the lineup of Ottawa Senators players at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ginny Sutcliffe, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Lucie Andlauer and Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer, CEO of gold sponsor Andlauer Healthcare Group, at the hockey club foundation’s signature Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Kyle Braatz, co-founder and CEO of title sponsor Fullscript, and part of the local minority ownership group of the Ottawa Senators, and his wife Rachel Braatz at the hockey club’s signature Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
More than 60 youth from the Churchill Alternative School Choir performed a variety of rock songs at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Laurel York, her brother-in-law Jeff York (CEO of Altea Ottawa and part of the local minority ownership group of the Ottawa Senators), Jeff’s brother (and former Ottawa Senators player) Jason York, and Jeff’s daughter Julia York, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ryan Watson from Raising the Bid in action during the live auction at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Cyril Leeder, president of the Ottawa Senators hockey club, and his wife, Lydia, at the VIP reception for the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Kevin Yemm and his wife, Monica Singhal, from sponsor Richcraft, with their guests, Valerie Campagna and Roberto Campagna, president of Roca Homes, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Head Coach Travis Green from the Ottawa Senators on stage with Tessa, Adam and Spartacat to read the lineup of Ottawa Senators players at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
CHEO’s chief branding and communications officer Anick Losier, District Realty broker and vice president Charles Mirsky, CHEO Foundation vice president of corporate philanthropy and community engagement Emily Jamieson, and Joanne Kudakiewicz, community relations managerDesjardins Financial Security Independent Network, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The live auction package of an Ultimate Day on the Greens for four with Ottawa Senators all-star right winger and avid golfer Drake Batherson sold for $21,000. An all-expense-paid trip for four to Toronto for a Battle of Ontario game brought in another $9,000.
There was also a package featuring behind-the-scenes time with goalie Linus Ullmark and hockey club president Cyril Leeder, as well as a private suite to watch an upcoming game that all went for $14,000.
A night of schnitzel and Stützle — as in player Tim Stützle — hosted by the German ambassador in Rockcliffe Park raised a further $23,000.
For $15,000, CLV Group chairman Mike McGahan, who’s also part of the local Ottawa Senators ownership group, bought a group lesson in the racquet sport of padel at the Rideau Sports Centre, with Ottawa Senators assistant coach and former team captain Daniel Alfredsson.
Funds raised were in support of CHEO, Maison Papillon, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice and Ronald McDonald House; local school breakfast food programs and food banks; and mental health support for young people.
The CLV Group table, including guest Ottawa Senators player Adam Gaudette in the back and CLV Group chairman Mike McGahan (third from right) gather around birthday boy and dinner guest John Raponi (seated in middle) at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Braatz is among the local business leaders with a stake in the Ottawa Senators, owned by Michael Andlauer, CEO of Andlauer Healthcare Group.
Braatz told the audience it was easy to partner with someone like Andlauer, who shares his values (at last year’s gala, Andlauer and his wife Lucie Andlauer donated $1 million for local healthcare services helping children and their families).
“We’re both entrepreneurs, we’re both avid hockey fans, we both married women who are way out of our league,” said Braatz, whose wit rivals his philanthropy. “It’s funny, as I look around this room at all you current and former hockey players, I realize you ugly bastards did the same thing we did.”
(He also openly lamented that player Shane Pinto will never find a woman prettier than him).
Andlauer – after expressing his gratitude to many individuals — shared with the audience his two key ingredients for success, whether as a hockey player or a business: “Work harder than your competition and care more. It’s as simple as that.'”
Ottawa Senators president Cyril Leeder described hockey as “the greatest sport on the planet” for how much it means to its players and fans.
“We know that hockey has a unique role. It’s more than just about the players on the ice; it brings our community together. It can even rally our country, as we saw last week with the 4 Nations Face-Off,” said Leeder, referring to Canada’s exciting overtime win. “And that’s not lost on us. We know and we appreciate that the responsibility extends to us well beyond the ice surface and into our community.”
The audience watched a charming little video that showed the players volunteering their time and making an impact. “The video doesn’t even capture it all,” said general manager Steve Staios. “I get to see these young men out in the community … and I know, and we’ve seen, that our players will hang around until the last autograph is signed and the last child is seen at a CHEO visit. It doesn’t go unnoticed by me, guys, and I appreciate it. It doesn’t go unnoticed by our community, so thank you.”
Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios on stage with president Cyril Leeder at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer and his wife, Lucie, with their three children, Mathew, Alexia and Michael Jr., at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Dean Usher from sponsor CIBC Private Wealth Wood Gundy, and his partner, Taryn Gunnlaugson, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Paul Knowles, senior vice-president and district manager at PCL Construction, Ottawa Senators vice president of business operations Chris Phillips and Miguel Lafleche, project manager at PCL Construction, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Visual artist Tony Harris and his wife Lianne Laing, president of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, with Bibbi Alfredsson and hockey legend Daniel Alfredsson at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios and his wife, Susannah, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Chad Schella, associate vice president of government relations for CIBC, with his wife, Catherine Clark, president of Catherine Clark Communications, and Andre Blanchard, managing director and head of Canadian corporate cash management at CIBC Capital Markets, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
KPMG’s incoming Ottawa managing partner Dave Walsh and his partner, Kristine Emmett, managing director at CPP Investments, with Stacey McMillan, senior manager KPMG Private Enterprise, and her husband, Drew McMillan, president of Ages Group of Companies, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Amanda Forget and Kyle Turk from Meerkat Marketing, which is hosting a fundraiser later this spring for the Senators Community Foundation, seen at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Arnie Mierins from Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown and part of the local minority ownership group of the Ottawa Senators, and his wife Vicki, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Calian director Ronald Richardson and his wife Emily, with former Ottawa Senators winger Chris Neil, and Frontier Petroleum president Dave Matheson and his wife, Alli, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Mark LeBlanc, president at Tiree, with Brendan Du Vall, vice president of ticket sales and service for theOttawa Senators Hockey Club, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Carole Saad, owner of Chic + Swell Event Designers and LouLou Lounge Furniture Rentals, with Dan Emond at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Heather Norris, president and CEO of Ottawa Network for Education, and Mitch Miller, director of advancement for ONFE, at the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala. Photo by Caroline Phillips
More than 600 people attended the Senators Black, Red & Gold Gala in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
DJ Emily Jones Joanisse, who’s also the CEO and co-founder of Connected Canadians and a professor at Carleton University, was in charge of the music at the after party, sponsored by CIBC. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment and Bell.
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