Fundraising Gala Brings Bill Clinton To Toronto
Posted March 2, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Both Clintons took a break from a rigorous campaign Saturday night. Bill headed to Toronto to speak at a fundraiser for his Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative ( CGSGI), while Hillary was in New York for an appearance on Saturday Night Live.
President Clinton spoke at the Westin Harbour Castle to crowds who had paid $25,000 per table. The CGSGI was founded in June 2007 as a partnership between Clinton and Vancouver mining financier Frank Giustra. The initiative supports sustainable development in Latin America.
Clinton highlighted the difference between Latin America and his Toronto audience.
” Look at what you take for granted. You don’t have a doubt in the world that you can drink the water on your table, and it will be safe and better for you than most of the other things we are drinking tonight.”
The crowd laughed as he continued.
“You would be shocked if the temperature controls in this room didn’t work, stunned if my microphone went off and you couldn’t hear a word I was saying. You take things like clean water, stable power, comfortable conditions for granted. The people we’re trying to help, most of them can’t take any of these things for granted.”
He ended his speech with a message of hope.
“Insofar as we can give them systems which form a connection between the efforts they make, the dreams in their hearts, the power of their brains, and the results they achieve, they will plot their own course and the whole world will be better off. We cannot continue to grow in a healthy, wholesome way if the world grows more unequal, more insecure and more unsustainable.”
The fund has raised $300 million so far.
On the popular late night program, Hillary appeared as herself, and uttered the famous lines, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
