The David Foster Foundation鈥檚 annual Miracle Gala and Concert that touted a celebrity guest list including Oprah Winfrey and Steven Tyler has come a long way from its roots as a softball tournament.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney said he was among those running the bases at Foster鈥檚 first fundraiser in British Columbia 30 years ago.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 see myself doing that now,鈥� he said at the gala鈥檚 red carpet in Vancouver on Saturday. 鈥淚t raised a modest amount of money, but that鈥檚 how things go, things start that way.鈥�

The charity institution founded in 1986 by the decorated Victoria-raised music producer raises money to support the non-medical expenses of Canadian families with children undergoing or awaiting life-saving organ transplants.

Mulroney, accompanied by his wife Mila, said it鈥檚 more than their friendship with Foster that keeps them supporting the cause.

鈥淭his is going to have a lasting mark on Canadians everywhere and it does such good work so it鈥檚 worth every effort to contribute to his initiative,鈥� he said.

To date, more than 1,100 families have been supported, relieving the pressure of their mortgage payments, travel costs and other expenses.

Saturday鈥檚 concert at Rogers Arena featured performances by Foster, Steven Tyler, The Tenors, Matteo Bocelli, Laura Bretan and B.C.鈥檚 Carly Rae Jepsen.

Jepsen鈥檚 performance comes just months before she heads on tour with pop star Katy Perry.

鈥淚鈥檓 very proud to be supporting such an incredible event and on top of that I鈥檓 in my home town so all my family and friends are here as well,鈥� she said.

Jepsen admitted she was also star-struck by the gala鈥檚 impressive lineup.

鈥淚鈥檓 just going to spend all night hunting for Oprah,鈥� she said.

Foster has won 16 Grammys, seven Junos, an Emmy and a Golden Globe while fetching three Oscar nominations for collaborations with stars including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli.

He is also a recipient of the Order of Canada and has a star on both the Canadian and Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Foster reflected on the achievements of the foundation ahead of the gala.

鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way and we鈥檙e going to continue, as long as the need is there we鈥檙e going to do it,鈥� he said.

He added that he鈥檚 bumped his goal to establish an endowment fund for the foundation from $30 million to $50 million by 2018 so that 鈥渉opefully long after I鈥檓 gone it鈥檒l still be doing the work.鈥�

Michael Ravenhill, the foundation鈥檚 chief executive officer, said although the gala has grown, so has the need.

鈥淲e actually need to make a difference. We need to save more children鈥檚 lives and keep families together,鈥� he said.

Ravenhill said less than 20 per cent of Canadians are registered organ donors.

鈥淚 think the big thing is that we still need to do a better job as a country,鈥� he said.

Linda Givetash, The Canadian Press

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