A record $51,000 enabled the Bean Counters Ball to exceed an impressive fundraising milestone late last month.
The 2023 sum, which will benefit charity partners Samaritans and the Hunter TAFE Foundation, took the annual event’s overall total past the $300,000 mark.
Launched in 2011, the popular function, which adopted a Vegas theme on this occasion – complete with gaming tables and an Elvis impersonator – at NEX Newcastle, is a joint venture between local members of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA Australia.
And, Bean Counters Ball chair Gerhard Bierman was thrilled with the positive response to it.
“We were looking forward to staging the event again in 2023,” he said.
“But, to have a record number of attendees (450) and amount of money raised was the cherry on top.
“The committee and I all received fantastic feedback from the guests, saying they were blown away with the entertainment, space and the speeches from the representatives of the charity partners.”
Two people who had been supported by Samaritans and the Hunter TAFE Foundation – Bree and Tori – took also took to the stage to emphasise the importance of fundraising on the night.
Both expressed their gratitude for the financial assistance.
To conclude the formalities, the prestigious Young Achiever Award, in partnership with Hunter Young Professionals (HYP), was awarded to Lake Macquarie City Council’s Kiraley Martin.
She’s a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion and is firmly committed to helping people gain better access to equal opportunities in the Hunter region, especially in education.
She is focused on assisting the community through her positions on the board of the Hunter TAFE Foundation and the Equal Futures Project.
Bean Counters Ball co-chair Daniel Drayton admitted the event wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of the committee and the generosity of the sponsors and guests on the night.
“We had a goal to beat our fundraising from 2022,” he said.
“And, we couldn’t believe we almost doubled it.
“Our thanks go to our sponsors, in particular Gillard Family Lawyers and Rapsey Griffiths.
“We now have big shoes to fill for 2024, so we encourage everyone to get involved and help us raise even more money at our next event.”
For more community stories:
- Grandfriends program ensures residents are ‘Busy Bees’
- Lake Mac marks Reconciliation Week 2023
- Aussie icon, local muso hit high notes mentoring Hunter inmates
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