[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Over 500 of the country’s leading philanthropists and captains of industry have gathered at Fox Studios for the annual Gold Dinner, the most exclusive charity gala for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, which is now in its 22nd year.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”65856″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][vc_single_image media=”65857″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With a vision to transform health outcomes for children now and for future generations, the Gold Dinner, Australia’s signature charity event, has raised close to $30 million since inception. And in an immersive gold (themed and styled) experience, guests generously pledged their support for this year’s beneficiary – Critical Care across The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, in the aid of the state’s most critically ill and injured children. Together the evening raised a staggering $3,000,000 and counting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65861″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65863″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Speaking about Critical Care and why it is such an important area, Nicola Stokes, CEO of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation said: “When a child is seriously ill or injured in our State, there is a network of critical care which wraps around them to give them their best chance at survival and recovery – from specialised transport to emergency and from intensive care to sophisticated training and education. Through the funds raised at Gold Dinner 2019, we will ensure the expert critical care teams from Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network will be there for every child, every step of the way.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65860″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65859″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Notable guests for this year’s fundraiser, included: Simon Baker, Hon Julie Bishop MP, Tim Minchin, Mike Cannon-Brookes, Steven Lowy, Skye Leckie, Channel 9’s Deborah Knight and Peter Overton, Karl and Jasmin Stefanovic, John and Amber Symond and Marc Freeman.
Helping to raise these crucial funds, guests were invited to bid at auction for special prizes, including:
Confessions of a Former Foreign Minister – an intimate lunch by Guillaume Brahimi hosted by The Hon Julie Bishop MP, which due to popular demand sold twice at a total of $77,000
Paspaley Pearl Safari Experience which sold for $15,000
A private cruise on Sydney Harbour aboard the luxury Ghost II which sold for $34,000[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”65858″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Throughout the evening, guests dined on a feast of the senses. A special custom menu collaboration was curated between celebrity chefs, Guillaume Brahimi and Nobu Matsuhisa, which included hiramasa yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño and braised wagyu short rib served on Paris mash – served alongside Bollinger Champagne and stunning wines. Any left over food from the evening was donated to OzHarvest trucks waiting outside the event and shared with people in need.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65855″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65865″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A special extra touch – surprise guest performer, Amy Shark, set the tone for the evening with an acoustic rendition set for guests before revealing a secret space, which transformed into a dance floor that continued into the night.
Long-time donor to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, philanthropist and businesswoman Monica Saunders-Weinberg led the 2019 Gold Committee as Chair, pledging that ‘it’s a great honour to be able to contribute to the future of children’s health’.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65864″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”65862″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The vision and efforts for this event would not have been possible without the committee, which comprises of longstanding members Alina Barlow, Roslyn Hakim, Emma van Haandel, Eva Galambos and Wallis Graham and this year welcomed Hon Julie Bishop MP, Richard A Weinberg, Mikey Filler, Kathryn Carter, Karl Stefanovic, Emma Cooper, Guillaume Brahimi and Phil Schofield.
Source: Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
