Make Happy Tummies Gala

Carmela Serebryany President, Upper Crust

What does the Make Happy Tummies Gala represent to you personally and to your organization?

No child should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Every child deserves nutritious food so that they can learn, grow, and thrive. The Gala embodies this belief and is a powerful unifying event.

For Upper Crust, the Gala is a meaningful reflection of the values that guide us as a company: Family, Innovation, and Tradition. It brings our industry together around a shared purpose to support children (and families), embrace making a meaningful difference, and continue our longstanding tradition of giving back.

As this is the first Gala under the Make Happy Tummies brand, what excites you most about being part of it, and how do you hope your involvement helps continue the legacy and impact this event has built over the years?

What excites me most is being part of launching a new chapter while carrying forward the spirit of collaboration and giving that has made this industry's support so meaningful over the years.

When businesses, leaders, and partners bring their resources, relationships, and passion together around a shared purpose, we can accomplish far more than any one organization could alone. I hope Upper Crust's involvement helps build that momentum, inspires even greater participation, and helps continue the legacy and impact this event has created for years to come.

There is something incredibly powerful about an industry built around food coming together to help ensure every child in Canada has access to nutritious, well-balanced meals, shared in the company of friends before their school day begins.

Can you share a memorable Gala moment or an example of the impact you've seen on your organization, your team or the community?

For me, what stands out most is seeing the collective response, with so many people and such a broad cross-section of organizations from across the industry coming together to support children and families facing food insecurity.

That shared sense of responsibility is what makes the initiative so meaningful and reinforces why giving back has always been an important part of Upper Crust's heritage and values.

What is your hope for this Gala and the long-term impact of the industry?

My hope is that the inaugural Make Happy Tummies Gala builds on the success of the events that came before it, while carrying forward and strengthening the long-term collaboration across our industry. Most importantly, I hope it helps create sustained support for children and families who need it.

Our industry has extraordinary reach and resources. By continuing to work together, we can create an impact that extends far beyond one event.

If you were known for one thing related to this inaugural Gala, what would it be?

Bringing people together around a shared purpose with representation from the food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturing sector, retailers, and so many more companies that support our industry 365 days a year.

I believe the greatest impact comes through collaboration, bringing together our relationships, resources, and collective influence across the entire food industry ecosystem to create meaningful, lasting support for children who are arriving at school hungry.

What three words best describe what the Make Happy Tummies Gala means to you?

Purpose. Collaboration. Impact.

William Yu National Sales Director, Bimbo Canada

What does the Make Happy Tummies Gala represent to you personally and to your organization?

To me personally, the Make Happy Tummies Gala represents the power of our industry uniting for something far bigger than business. Having attended past galas, I’ve experienced firsthand the incredible energy in the room and the tangible impact this event has delivered. Seeing that difference made me want to step up, get involved directly, and give back. Food is what we do every day, but this event is a powerful reminder that ensuring kids have access to nutritious food is a shared community responsibility.

For Bimbo Canada, it is a meaningful extension of our core purpose. While we take pride in feeding families across the country every day, our involvement here allows us to reach beyond the shelf. It’s about strengthening communities, breaking barriers, and making sure every child has the essential nourishment they needed to learn, grow, and thrive.

As this is the first Gala under the Make Happy Tummies brand, what excites you most about being part of it, and how do you hope your involvement helps continue the legacy and impact this event has built over the years?

What excites me most is helping launch this fresh chapter while honouring the event's rich legacy. The Make Happy Tummies brand sharpens our focus around a clear, emotional, and essential truth: every child deserves to feel nourished, supported, and ready to succeed.

I hope to bring energy, authentic connection, and strong cross-industry engagement to this inaugural year. The CPG industry possesses unmatched scale when rallied around a common goal. I want my involvement to help mobilize our network of retailers, suppliers, and leaders to turn this milestone evening into sustained, year-round momentum.

Can you share a memorable Gala moment or an example of the impact you've seen on your organization, your team or the community?

The most defining moment for me was sitting in the room as an attendee at previous galas and witnessing how quickly fierce marketplace competitors set everything aside to champion the cause. The shift from commercial business to a pure, human purpose was palpable.

Seeing that collective generosity inspired me to transition from a guest in the audience to an active contributor on the committee. Within our organization, that same energy takes hold: teams take deep pride in knowing that our daily work connects to creating real opportunity, confidence, and health for children across Canada.

What is your hope for this Gala and the long-term impact of the industry?

My hope is that this inaugural Gala acts as a catalyst for deeper, bolder industry collaboration. We have a unique platform to prove what’s possible when the entire CPG ecosystem unites around child nutrition.

Longer term, I hope the Make Happy Tummies Gala evolves beyond a marquee evening into an enduring movement. With our industry's collective reach and resources, we have both the privilege and the responsibility to ensure no child starts their day at a disadvantage.

If you were known for one thing related to this inaugural Gala, what would it be?

For being a bridgebuilder who turned purpose into collective action. If I can spark genuine enthusiasm, bring key partners to the table, and help rally our industry to give back in a bigger way, that’s the impact I want to leave behind.

What three words best describe what the Make Happy Tummies Gala means to you?

Purpose. Nourishment. Impact.

Greg Burden Director of Grocery Merchandising, Metro (Ontario)
Member, Make Happy Tummies™ Gala Committee

What does the Make Happy Tummies Gala represent to you personally and to your organization?

"The Make Happy Tummies™ Gala brings our industry together around something bigger than business. It's an opportunity to raise awareness, provide critical support for children, and create a meaningful impact that can last a lifetime."

Their Story

For Greg Burden, the inaugural Make Happy Tummies™ Gala represents the very best of Canada's grocery industry: collaboration, generosity, and a shared commitment to helping children succeed.

As Director of Grocery Merchandising at Metro (Ontario) and a member of the Gala Committee, Greg sees the event as much more than a fundraising gala. It is an opportunity for industry partners, retailers, suppliers, and community leaders to come together in support of a cause that is changing lives across the country.

"The Gala is an evening for our industry to unite, raise awareness, and generate the much-needed funding that help make a real difference," says Greg. "There is something incredibly energizing about being in a room full of people who are committed to helping children and families. Being part of the team that helps bring this event to life is both rewarding and inspiring."

Greg is especially excited about the launch of the Make Happy Tummies brand and the opportunities that come with this new chapter.

"What excites me most is being part of a fresh start[GN1.1] while continuing the incredible legacy that has already been built. This movement is about nourishing the minds of young people across Canada by ensuring they have the nutrition they need to learn and grow. I feel fortunate to play even a small role alongside the many remarkable people in our industry who are committed to making a difference in children's lives."

For Greg, some of the most powerful moments have come from hearing firsthand stories from individuals whose lives were positively impacted by school nutrition programs.

"When you listen to adults and young adults reflect on how these programs helped shape their path to success, you truly understand the lasting impact of what we're doing. These stories reinforce why events like this Gala are so important."

A Memorable Moment

One experience, in particular, continues to resonate with Greg.

"My first breakfast at a Toronto school left a lasting impression on me. Seeing the children gather together, share a meal, talkwith their friends, and starttheir day with the nutrition they needed was incredibly powerful. It was inspiring to witness the direct impact these programs have on a child's ability to learn and thrive."

The experience was especially meaningful because of a personal connection. Greg's wife, Sarah, volunteered at the breakfast program at their children's elementary school several times each week.

"After attending my first breakfast, my first call was to Sarah. I told her, 'Now I understand why you dedicate so much of your time to this initiative.' It felt incredibly rewarding and was such a positive way to start the day. I thanked her for everything she had done because I could see firsthand the difference those small acts of service make."

Looking Ahead

As the inaugural Make Happy Tummies™ Gala approaches, Greg hopes the event continues to grow in both reach and impact.

"My hope is that the Gala becomes a celebration of what our industry can accomplish together. I want to see us continue raising awareness, expanding our support, and generating the funds needed to ensure every child has access to a nutritious meal and the opportunity to begin their school day ready to learn."

When asked what he would most like to be known for in connection with the inaugural Gala, Greg's answer reflects his team-oriented leadership style.

"I'd like to be known as someone who helped bring people together. Whether through sponsorships, attendance, fundraising, or industry engagement, success will come from the collective efforts of many people working toward a common goal. If our team can help exceed our sponsorship, ticket sales, and fundraising objectives, we'll know we've made a meaningful contribution to the future of this organization."

In Three Words

Purpose, Community, Legacy