A sold-out gala ball in Hobart has raised $151,000 in a single night to help Tasmanian children living with disability or facing disadvantage.
More than 470 guests packed the Tasman Room at Wrest Point on Saturday for the Variety of Chefs Gala Ball, smashing the charity’s fundraising target at its biggest event of the year.
Variety Tasmania CEO Mohammad Aldergham said the result would make a real difference as more families seek help.
“Saturday night showed just how powerful the Tasmanian community can be when people come together for a shared purpose,” he said.
“To raise $151,000 in one night is an incredible result.”
“It means we can provide more children and families across Tasmania with life-changing assistance, equipment, programs and experiences that might otherwise be out of reach.”
The money will go towards grants, programs and support for children across the state.
A four-course menu showcased local produce, put together by chefs Paul Foreman, Karen Jones of Derwent Estate, Luciano Pasa of Wrest Point and Stefan Schröeder of Mures Tasmania.
Young Tasmanian artists Lily Gatehouse and Morgan Bannister performed alongside the Royal Australian Navy Band Tasmania.
The evening also featured Variety International Presidential honours.
Ray and Jeanette Ware received an International Presidential Citation for more than a decade of volunteer work, having been involved since their first TasBash in 2015.
Radio station 7HOFM received an International Presidential Award for its long-running partnership with Variety Tasmania through on-air promotion, event support and staff volunteering.
Aldergham credited the community for the night’s success.
“Our chefs gave their time and talent, businesses donated extraordinary auction items and prizes, our volunteers worked tirelessly and hundreds of people in the room put their hands up and gave generously,” he said.
“We set an ambitious fundraising target and the generosity in the room took us beyond it.”
Over the past year, the charity has supported 26,693 children across the state through programs, grants and community projects, delivered 82 program activations and allocated 124 grants totalling more than $556,000.
