Soirée des Grands 2025: record amount raised for youths in the care of the DYP!

May 21, 2025

From left to right: Martin Robitaille, managing director and head of corporate finance, Québec and Énergies, Banque Nationale, partner of the Soirée des Grands; Fabienne Audette, CEO, Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ; Michel Gamelin, managing director, Caisse Desjardins du Centre-est de Montréal, partner of the Soirée des Grands; Catherine Beauchemin, Managing Director, Private Equity, Quebec, CDPQ, co-chair of the Fondation’s Philanthropic Development Committee; Dominic Gagnon, co-founder and CEO, Connect&GO, co-chair of the Soirée des Grands; Julie Pagé, Partner, W Investments, co-chair of the Soirée des Grands; Philippe Latreille, Co-President, Modulable, co-chair of the Soirée des Grands; Dominique Dupuis, Partner, Canadian Corporate Tax, KPMG, president of the Board of the Fondation; Yvon Roy, Co-founder and Managing Partner, RippleCrest, outgoing president of the Board of the Fondation. Missing: Mathieu Descheneaux, Chief Financial Officer, Metro Supply Chain, co-presenter.

The Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ is pleased to celebrate a successful third edition of the Soirée des Grands, its annual fundraising event held on May 15 at Windsor Station. An impressive net amount of $1 011 316 was raised thanks to the many partners, donors and attendees for this major evening of philanthropy that can make a real difference in the lives of youths in the care of the DYP.

Presented by Metro Supply Chain, the Soirée des Grands signature benefit event drew 750 guests from the world of business and entrepreneurship, government, philanthropy and youth protection. The colourful “Festival Edition”-themed event was deftly emceed by Jean-Philippe Dion, adoptive father of a teenager who was under youth protection. He reminded us that no young person should feel forgotten. We can instill hope for a future in them by supporting the Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ’s mission.

I agreed to take on the role of honorary patron because I truly believe there’s no one better placed to talk about youths in care of the DYP and the importance of supporting them than someone who has already been through the youth protection system. For these young people, the Fondation can be that helping hand that makes all the difference in their life. Thank you for supporting such an important cause. There’s no doubt about the positive impact you can have in their life.

Mathieu Lacombe

Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister Responsible for Youth, and Honorary Patron of the Soirée des Grands

We’re very proud, as honorary co-chairs, to support the Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ. They give the most vulnerable youths the push they need to dream big. Our respective organizations recognize the tremendous work that goes into supporting these young people and it’s a privilege to be able to join forces to help them. Because success comes with responsibility. The duty to give back. Youths in the care of the DYP never chose to be born in an unfavourable environment and we need to be there for them. Equal opportunity is not a luxury. It is the foundation of a fair society.

Dominic Gagnon, co-founder and CEO, Connect&GO
Philippe Latreille, Co-President, Modulable
Julie Pagé, Partner, W Investments

Youths in the care of the DYP face many obstacles in building their future, but this evening proves that there’s hope! More requests keep coming into the Fondation and thanks to the commitment of donors and partners, we can have a direct impact on the development, success and future of thousands of young people.

Fabienne Audette

CEO of the Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ

The money raised from that evening will support youths in the care of the DYP in Montreal and elsewhere in Quebec through six of the Fondation’s programs.