TD Synnex Share the Magic fundraiser brings in $2.8M for causes

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It all began a decade ago with a pre-set stage.

Peter Laroque, president of TD Synnex North America, kept the venue selected for his company’s 2011 Inspire conference just a few days longer than usual.

Using the staging and momentum built from the conference — which now draws more than 2,000 to Greenville each year — Laroque and his team launched the first Share the Magic gala.

That event alone rallied $500,000 for Make-A-Wish South Carolina among other local charities.

By 2014, Make-A-Wish, A Child’s Haven, Clement’s Kindess and Pendleton Place for Children and Families received more than $2.3 million from Share the Magic attendees, according to a news release from the time. Upstate children, including 38 patients suffering from a critical illness, were granted $3.59 million and dreams come true through Make-A-Wish Foundation.

And as the original Share the Magic format continues to spread across TD Synnex’s service area, similar events have popped up in six other markets.

This year, the fundraiser ushered $2.8 million into charity coffers following an auction and party with live music and dancing on Oct. 8 at the Grand Lawn at Hartness.

Daughter events held in Arizona, Canada, California, Colorado, Illinois and Texas raised $850,000 during 2022, a portion of the $20 million generated from all Share the Magic events, spanning from golf tournaments to charity walks, over the years.

“We are beyond thrilled with the outcome of this year’s TD Synnex Share the Magic celebration,” Larocque said in an Oct. 12 news release. “Saturday night’s event was the culmination of a year-long effort by our dedicated planning committee, vendors, partners and sponsors, who are so passionate about the charities and what they do for the children and families in our community. We couldn’t be happier and look forward to getting started on Share the Magic 2023.”

The gala featured a pop-up village offering dishes nodding to the event’s “Around the World” theme and live music from classic R&B party band Simply Irresistible.

“We are incredibly grateful for the funds we receive from TD Synnex Share the Magic,” Tanya Camunas, CEO of A Child’s Haven, said in the release. “Share the Magic provides our largest annual gift, and year after year we are astounded at the generosity of those who make it happen. These funds allow us to provide child care-expelled children and their families with behavioral health and therapeutic child care services for a year at no cost to families, breaking the cycles of poverty, abuse and neglect by treating the whole family. Share the Magic allows A Child’s Haven to deepen our impact and serve even more children in need, and we are truly blessed to be a beneficiary of this amazing initiative.”

Clement’s Kindness serves Upstate families impacted by pediatric cancer, while Pendleton Place provides aid to youth at risk of homelessness and emergency housing for youth in need.