A Night to Remember, A Reason to Celebrate: A Party for a Cause 2025

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

There are some nights you don’t forget — not just because of the music, the laughter, or the energy in the room, but because of what that night stood for. On Saturday, March 29^th, 2025, Rebound Wellness invited the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper to experience exactly that: an evening full of joy, purpose, and community at their signature event, A Party for a Cause.

This wasn’t just another night out — it was a celebration of what happens when people come together to uplift one another, to support meaningful causes, and to have an unforgettable time while doing it.

“Sometimes people turn up their nose about discussions about prostate cancer, especially men.”

The night was an electrifying fusion of entertainment, inspiration, and impact. It featured:

• Inspirational speakers who shared stories of strength, healing, and hope
• Live entertainment that set the stage on fire with music and energy
• Interactive experiences that connected, and engaged
• Of course — dancing, laughter, and pure celebration

What truly made this night special was celebrating the two incredible organizations doing vital work in our communities:

• The Walnut Foundation – championing men’s health and wellness, particularly within the Black community, and addressing early detection and education around prostate cancer and other critical health issues.
• The Olive Branch of Hope – Support and compassion for individuals and families impacted by breast cancer, offering community, advocacy, and healing spaces for survivors and fighters alike.

These causes touch so many lives, and this event was a way of celebrating them and funding their continued impact.

I had a chance to speak with Andre Rose (VP of Membership Development and Community Outreach), and he shared with me the purpose and mission of Party for a Cause.

“The Walnut Foundation and Olive Branch of Hope are important to our community,” Andre begins. “Sometimes people turn up their nose about discussions about prostate cancer, especially men, and usually, it is the women who have to take the information to the men.”

“So how can we break down the fear around the topic. We can talk about it while: eating food, networking and raising awareness.”

This is their second one. Their first one was 2023, and they were able to get the concept out. “We realized that the concept of it and the conversations around it was warranted. We were like, we need to make this a regular thing. So, this year we came with a new mission and vision. Now we are in a place that we are developing a business around it.” 

“We had the Anthony Henry (President of The Walnut Foundation) do a presentation around the importance of men getting checked early, and we focused on gathering individuals as ambassadors. We are not doing it in a traditional way, we want to reach people in a different way.” 

Derrick Springer (Operations and Project Delivery, Olive Branch of Hope) also spoke, and shared some shocking information. There are now women who are being diagnosed with breast cancer at 22.

“If we are able to bring organizations together to discuss important topics like this in a palatable way, to me, this is incredible,” Andre explains. “It is about saving lives.”

This event shows that when we party with purpose, we can create ripples that reach far beyond the dance floor.