A record attendance of more than 500 helped Teesside’s biggest annual charity dinner raise a best ever £77,000 for some of Teesside’s most disadvantaged families.
Held in the Grand Marquee at Wynyard Hall, Teesside Philanthropic Foundation’s Charity Ball also got the ball rolling on a new fundraising campaign to buy a second caravan to give short breaks to some of the area’s most vulnerable families and children.
Andy Preston, the charity’s founder and chairman, said: “The night was a huge success and, with the support of so many Teesside people and organisations, we’re very proud to have raised £77,000.
“We do realise that money isn’t going to change the world, nor will it even change Teesside, but it will make it a little bit fairer by helping to make the lives of some of our most vulnerable people a little bit more enjoyable.”
One of the night’s key messages was the success of the charity’s Caravan of Love, which has already seen more than 30 families and nearly 100 children enjoy holidays at Reighton Sands, near Filey, during 2017.
No fewer than 22 individuals, families and organisations pledged to donate £1,000 towards the £35,000 needed to buy a second caravan.
Two auctions raised £26,500, with two winning bidders each getting a week-long stay in a 12-bed luxury Mallorcan villa for £5,900 each.
Other auction items were donated by Psyche, Emirates, Small Luxury Hotels, Wynyard Hall, Porsche Centre Teesside, elite makeup artist Amanda Bell, Charles Clinkard, Lucy Pittaway, Ramsdens, Paul Gibson Motorsport, Joe Cornish Gallery, First Choice Labels, Café Lilli, Rockliffe Hall, Castlegate Shopping Centre, Simon and Mel Thompson, Luxury Chauffeuring Services, Cornerstone Business Solutions, Ecco Finishing Supplies, Nick Dent, Yarm Originals, Sylvia Ross, Amanda Hamilton, Simon Thompson, Judith Baker and Auto Executive.
A further £5,200 was raised through the sale of 260 raffle tickets priced £20 each with a prize guaranteed every time thanks to the support of dozens of local companies.
Chairman Andy Preston launched the Foundation in 2011 with the support of Tanya Garland of Cool Blue Brand Communications, who were Headline Sponsors of the fundraising dinner.
Co-Sponsors for the Wynyard Hall event were Active Chartered Financial Planners, Barclays Middlesbrough were Entertainment Sponsors, Devereux Transport were Wine Sponsors, Endeavour Partnership were Programme Sponsors, while Drinks Reception Sponsors were InBond.
