A sold-out charity lunch at Noosa Heads Surf Club has raised an astounding $200,000 to support local families doing it tough this Christmas through the charity Santa’s Classy Helpers (SCH).
More than 300 guests packed the venue for the fundraising event on Wednesday 30 July, which included sporting greats such as Dawn Fraser, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Michael O’Connor.
Also in attendance was fundraising stalwart Glenn ‘Puck’ Puckeridge and his Smile For A Child team.
The event, full of warmth and generosity, was driven by the collaborative efforts of NHSLSC general manager Anton Mogg, surf club restaurant proprietor Peter Thynne, and event floor co-ordinator Tony Jackson.
“It was a huge success raising $200k for the homeless of the shire,” Peter said.
Steve Haddan took the reins as the Master of Ceremonies, while celebrity auctioneer Lance Smith delivered high-energy auction action, encouraging guests to dig deep for a good cause.
A beautiful artwork titled ‘Fairy Pools – Noosa’ by local artist Ben Hedstrom added to the already impressive list of prizes and auction items generously provided by local businesses.
The proceeds will go directly to Santa’s Classy Helpers, a grassroots charity supporting families in the Noosa region during the festive season.
Founded by Lorraine Kenway, the charity began in 2012 after she found a woman and her children sleeping in their car just days before Christmas.
She was shocked and decided, ‘we could do better’. With the help of a small group of locals, Santa’s Classy Helpers was born.
Now in its 13th year, the charity has grown significantly, responding to rising community need.
In its first year, the charity supported 75 families. Last year, that number soared to 400 families, including 1000 children and teens.
To identify those most in need, the charity collaborates with well-established organisations such as Waves of Kindness, St Vincent de Paul, The Salvation Army, YouTurn, Domestic Violence units, Sunny Kids, and local school chaplains.
Each December, families are invited to The J, where they can choose from an extensive range of gifts, food, and festive items provided by the charity.
The reasons creating these needy situations vary from medical situations to loss of jobs, domestic violence and most recently increases in rent and the cost of living.
With demand growing year after year, SCH and its supporters remain committed to their mission.
