The Western Health Foundation had a busy end to the month of March, raising $192,000 across three separate events in just one weekend – the Sunshine Kids Gala on Friday 28 March, the Day Hospice High Tea on Saturday 29 March and the Sunshine Children’s Ward Bacash Lunch on Sunday 30 March.
At the Moonee Valley Racing Club on the evening of Friday 28 March, 410 guests were hosted by Ms Jenny Sadler and her Committee and the Western Health Foundation to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald Family Room, which is forming a major part of the new Children’s Ward redevelopment at Sunshine Hospital.
The upgrade of the Children’s Ward will include a re-commissioned Baby Bathing Room, a Negative Pressure Room (for infection control), a five bed Day Procedure Recovery Unit, a High Care Unit with new monitoring systems to be installed, an upgraded Nurses’ Station, along with a Ronald McDonald Family Room and Relaxation Zone with kitchen, laundry and shower facilities.
The net result from this event was an amazing $118,000.
“This was an outstanding outcome, far exceeding our expectations for the dinner,” Western Health Foundation Head of Development, Simonne Michelle-Wells said.
“There was a fantastic atmosphere in the room and a very engaged audience, with a host of people donating their time to the cause, including auctioneer, Wayne Sweeney, Director of Sweeney Real Estate, who facilitated an incredibly successful and entertaining auction on the night; western suburbs singer and 2013 The Voice finalist Kiyomi Vella who wowed the audience with her stunning voice, and House Husbands and Home Away star Tim Campbell, who was our fabulous MC for the night,” Simonne added.
The High Tea for the Day Hospice was held on Saturday 29 March for the second consecutive year.
The event was attended by over 250 people community members, Western Health staff and volunteers, along with patients and their carers.
This year the High Tea raised over $8000, which will be used for the Day Hospice Grant-a-Wish program and to improve the Day Hospice facilities for patients.
The Foundation has received wonderful feedback about the event and the Committee is looking forward to planning an even bigger and better event for 2015.
The Foundation engaged the support of Fiona and Michael Bacash to host an exclusive fundraising lunch for 60 guests at their South Yarra restaurant on Sunday 30 March.
Bacash Restaurant has been awarded Chef’s Hats in the Age Good Food Guide and is well known throughout Melbourne for its fine seafood dining
Fiona secured donations of virtually all the food and premium wines and her wait staff all donated their time on the day.
The lunch raised more than $69,000 for the Children’s Ward Appeal, which was another fantastic result.
“The Foundation team would like to offer our sincere thanks to Fiona and Michael Bacash and Jenny Sadler and her team for both hosting these hugely successful events in support of such a good cause,” Simonne said.
