Lady Gaga benefit concert raises $35K

International bestselling electro-pop sensation Lady GaGa was in Toronto November 30 to lend her support to Canada’s RE*Generation initiative. In partnership with Virgin Unite and Virgin Mobile Canada, the RE*Generation program is working with Canadian organisations that support at-risk and homeless youth.

Lady GaGa's appearance in Toronto included a benefit concert at Circa, with the proceeds (totaling $35K) going to support the RE*Generation Canada partners, including Eva’s Phoenix, part of Eva’s Initiatives in Toronto, Broadway Youth Resource Centre in Vancouver, and the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, an international in-school program that inspires youth to help their own generation.

Before the show, she toured Eva's Phoenix, a youth shelter and RE*Generation partner. "This is a really amazing, transitional place," Lady GaGa said of the shelter. "If I can be inspiring to them and be a part of it, that makes me feel more powerful than any of the stage drama or the flashing lights."

The RE*Generation program, introduced in the spring of 2008 in Canada, is Virgin Mobile Canada and Virgin Unite’s effort to empower a generation to help its own by bringing together organizations that care about Canada's at-risk and homeless youth and connecting them with people who want to help. In partnership with Virgin Unite Canada, the RE*Generation program has raised $300,000 for Canadian programs that support at-risk and homeless youth.

“Youth homelessness is a serious issue in Canada and one that we can’t afford to ignore. There are tens of thousands of young people living on the streets in Canada. Many have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, violence and substance abuse, mental illness and family instability,” said Andrew Black, President and Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Mobile Canada.

“Virgin Mobile and Virgin Unite want to help make a difference and we want to inspire our customers and other Canadians to do the same. RE*Generation gives them a place to direct that passion, connect with agencies so that they can make a difference and inspire everyone they know to make a change in the lives of youth that need it the most.”

Watch as Virgin Mobile Canada's Brand Team brings the holiday spirit to Eva's Phoenix and gets the shelter ready for a media event with Lady Gaga where they announced that they have raised $300K to help at- risk youth.