motionball gala 2005

motionball Presenting Sponsors

motionball Platinum Sponsors


motionball is the brainchild of three best friends – who also happen to be brothers.
The motionball concept was hatched in the fall of 2001 over a few drinks at the Bier Market in downtown Toronto. While enjoying the patio, Mark, Sean and Paul Etherington deliberated as to how they could make a greater impact on Special Olympics Canada (SOC), a charity they had supported since childhood.
The Etherington brothers’ association with Special Olympics grew out of years of volunteering at Special Olympics events created by their parents, Brian & Kirsteen Etherington who, along with David Garard and Bruce Etherington, co-founded the Sports Celebrities Festival, which has raised in excess of $12,000,000 for Special Olympics since 1983. Brian has since Chaired Special Olympics Canada and has recently created a Foundation for SOC with a goal of raising $40,000,000 to endow Canadian Special Olympics for years to come.

What grew out of the brothers’ first meeting was motionball, a charitable organization that is designed to introduce a new generation of supporters, sponsors and volunteers to the Special Olympics movement through integrated sporting and social events.
In order to make this concept a reality, the Etheringtons enlisted the support of a diverse and enthusiastic young Board, drawn from their friends and colleagues in Toronto’s professional community. With varying and complementary backgrounds, knowledge and skills, the Board shared a common interest in giving back to their community and a commitment to helping those less fortunate
The first motionball gala set the tone for what was to follow: celebrities, live entertainment, silent auction, top notch DJs, delicious food and an incredible crowd. Held in March 2002, only 5 months after the initial meeting, the gala – in combination with a Tragically Hip benefit concert for motionball– netted $57,000; the following year, on February 28, 2003, the second motionball was held and raised over $70,000 net for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Eager to capitalize on this rapid growth and success, the brothers and Board added to the motionball campaign. In 2003, the first Marathon of Sport – a day-long, multisport event bringing together Special Olympics athletes and non-disabled competitors – was held, and in 2004 motionball partnered with the CFL and the Toronto Argonauts to present the inaugural Football Frenzy, a two day flag football tournament with games at Toronto’s SkyDome. To date, motionball has raised approximately $380 000 in support of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation.
The gauntlet has now been dropped and the challenge laid: motionball’s mandate is to raise awareness and funds through the young professional market and over a 10-year period raise in excess of $1,000,000 net for Special Olympics Canada.
All in all, not a bad result for three brothers, three best friends, over a beer one sunny autumn day.