TIFF 2013: $20,000 got Maria Bello into the pool for charity at yesterday’s Artists for Peace and Justice lunch

by Bernadette Morra September 9, 2013

TIFF 2013 Artists For Peace and Justice — Photography by George Pimentel

See the Artists for Peace and Justice lunch images »

How far will Maria Bello go to raise money to build schools in Haiti? We found out on Sunday afternoon when she threw herself into Michael Budman’s pool on a $20,000 dare. The Roots co-founder had offered the donation to Artists for Peace and Justice for anyone who went for a spontaneous swim. And Bello was game, even though her red Marc Jacobs pantsuit was most likely dry clean only.

The bash took place in Budman’s park-like backyard, which has a full-size hockey rink in one corner, and space for a stage in the other. In between, Colin Firth, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis and Adrien Brody were among the 200 curled on Roots hockey blankets or lounging on white sofas to hear performances by Daniel Lanois, Michael Bolton and Rufus Wainwright.

The event is an annual affair supporting the charity started by Oscar-winning writer/director Paul Haggis, who hails from London, ON. But for the blue chip folks of Forest Hill, it was just another Sunday.