Guests at the Gingerbread Ball Raised Over £6,000
The Gingerbread Ball on Friday 14th September 2018, was a fantastic success, raising over £6,000 towards The Gingerbread Centre’s Mental Health Matters campaign.
The guests arrived at the stunning Jubilee Hall in their evening finery, excited and looking forward to a fabulous evening. Our photographer, took some great photos of the evening, some formally posed for or in some cases, caught off guard (see one of me with my arms full of wine bottles) I must point out the beautiful blue balloon bracelet I am modelling, provided by one of the 2 magicians Rich and Chris who entertained our guests during the evening, tables of guests were amazed by the magic trickery they had up their sleeves, needless to say, everyone had a fantastic night.
Tables were full of local people, friends and business contacts all enjoying a glamorous evening. Guests watched a short emotional film, about our residents who talked about their experiences and hopes for the future and how Gingerbread have supported them and changed their lives.
One resident from our teenage parents unit, was in tears saying ‘I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me and my son, because without Gingerbread I would not have my son’
Another said ‘If I wasn’t at Gingerbread I would still be homeless and in a DV relationship’
Once the tears dried and the fabulous dinner served, Tim Wedgwood from Radio Stoke, encouraged guests to join in with the Charity Auction, where we had some fabulous prizes donated, varying from a crate of beer, a dog pampering session, Santa’s lunch, a Golf day, and a late donation by Gareth Higgins from KMF of a fabulous night out in London with a West end show and meal at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant.
Paul Deakin our new Fundraiser, made everyone feel very welcome and did his lively best to make sure the auction bidders did not miss their favourite bid. Heads and Tails was a hit, at the end 2 glamour girls went head to head, or should I say, head to tails for the Magnum of Champagne – finally won by Karen Coleman of ExcelloLaw, who correctly chose to keep her hands on her head!
Debbie McAndrew was attending her first event as our new Ambassador, she met some of our dedicated staff for the first time in the evening, who made sure they enjoyed the night too, said she was proud to have the opportunity to work with us to help raise awareness of the work we do supporting the homeless families of Stoke on Trent.
I must say a personal ‘Thank You’ to our main supporter of the night; Richard Jacobs Pensions, a local firm we have known for many years and also to our other supporters; local businesses; Rydale Roofing, Staffordshire Housing Association, Commercial Networks Ltd, Staffordshire Film Archive, Drama School Stoke, KMF Group, Cathy Bower Photography, Dicky Bow Entertainment, Mitten Clarke, Ben Scott Mortimer and Tim Wedgwood from Radio Stoke. The support we received from you all helped us fund the ball and enabled us to raise over £6,000; thank you so much.
This is the highest amount we have raised from a ball so far and will go a long way towards our Mental Health Matters campaign, but also sets us the challenge, with the help from new Fundraiser Paul and our new Ambassador Debbie, to raise even more next year! Thank you so much.
p.s. Look out for our Save the Date cards shortly to be sent out to our VIPS.