Article
CBRE Helps Raise $222k For Montreal Real Estate Foundation for Kids
October 23, 2025 3 Minute Read
These are trying times for raising funds. Which makes it all the more impressive that the CBRE x FIMJ Charity Cocktail Reception in September generated an eyepopping and record-breaking $222,700 for the Montreal Real Estate Foundation for Kids (FIMJ).
FIMJ supports commercial real estate initiatives by nonprofit organizations who strive to help young people who are experiencing a difficult life by investing in safe spaces and places where they can flourish and grow.
CBRE has been a longtime supporter of FIMJ and CBRE Quebec Managing Director Louis Karam sits on the foundation’s board.
The charity was launched in 2003 and the first cocktail event held in 2015. Since then the CBRE x FIMJ Charity Cocktail Reception has grown from simple community outreach to one of the most anticipated philanthropic cocktail events in the industry.
Held every two years, the event brings together hundreds of commercial real estate professionals and members of the community for an evening of connection and creativity in support of Montreal's most vulnerable youth.
Challenging Year for Fundraising
This year’s event was co-hosted by CBRE’s Erica Deschenes and David Cervantes, with an assist from Elisa Anna Migliara.
“It was definitely a challenging year to raise funds but we cast a wider net and were successful in engaging with more sponsors and donors than ever,” says Deschenes, noting that she and Cervantes reached out to their office and data centre industry networks for support.
The cocktail reception’s main sponsors were Montoni, a Laval, QC-based real estate development firm; Whitefiber, a recently publicly listed Quebec-based date centre firm; and T-Rize Group, which is democratizing real estate investment with tokenization on the blockchain.
“We wanted to broaden the range of groups that could donate to make a difference in our community,” says Deschenes. “And we were very happy with the level of engagement and willingness to give back to help youth in need.”
Karam notes that the event achieved record-high fundraising but also had the lowest costs on record. “It means more funds in the hands of the foundation to reinvest in our community to help children in need.”
Space for the Arts
The CBRE x FIMJ Charity Cocktail Reception took place in the lobby of Allied Properties REIT’s 1001 Robert-Bourassa redevelopment project, which CBRE is marketing for Allied. Allied donated the use of the space for the event.
Part of the project involved transforming a formerly conventional lobby into an immersive destination that fosters community and wellness, supports collaboration, and serves as an event venue for up to 1,000 people.
“This lobby has been designed to be part of an urban village in downtown Montreal,” Cervantes explains. “It speaks to the importance of placemaking and textural influences and making space for arts and culture.”
To set the tone for the cocktail reception, CBRE brought in a local artist who created live artwork in the room, with prints available to those who signed up for one. “We were promoting the artist and allowing her to maintain ownership of her intellectual property,” Cervantes says.
There was also local jazz singer Nora Toutain, who entertained the crowd with a three-song performance. Cervantes notes that the singer and her band were given ownership of the videography, which they were free to edit and share on their socials.
“These artists are lending us their talents and we want to properly support them too,” he says. “The more we can support artists in our city centre the more likely we’ll reinvigorate our downtown core.”
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