The 2008 Grocery Charity Ball

Once again the grocery industry dug deep into its pockets at the 5th annual Grocery Charity Ball held in Auckland on Friday 26th September, and raised a huge amount of money for 2008 Beneficiaries What's Up and Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. 

Money is still being counted, and pledges collected, but the final figure is expected to be well into the six figures as it has been in previous years.

This year for the first time, the Food & Grocery Council (FGC) used the occasion of the annual get together of the industry to present Lifetime Achiever Awards to two recipients: Peter Burton and Peter Mitchell. 

In presenting the awards, Chairman of the FGC, Peter McClure made mention of the fact that sadly, Peter Burton had passed away a few weeks ago.  Both 'Peters' had made major contributions to the grocery industry going back over 40 years.

The 650 attendees at this year's ball were kept on their toes throughout the night by television presenter, 'Dancing With The Stars' Judge, and rugby league officionado Alison Leonard.  Alison ensured that the evening was yet again a fabulous gala night out, with the highlight being the entertainment surprise: the international violin trio, the String Divas (see www.thestringdivas.com).

The final donations on the night are expected to be tallied over the coming weeks - watch this website for details.

Two 2008 Beneficiaries

For the first time, the Trustees of the Grocery Charity Ball chose two charities to be the Beneficiaries of the 2008 Grocery Charity Ball.

What's Up, run by the Kids Help Foundation Trust, was the primary beneficiary of the 2008 Ball. While Hearing Dogs for Deaf People also received funding from the Ball, in a new funds distribution structure which saw the donations raised on the night split 70:30 between the primary and secondary Beneficiaries.

What's Up is a free, national telephone counselling service for New Zealanders aged 5 to 18 years that has been available since 22nd September 2001. The service operates seven days a week from noon to midnight. Paid, trained and closely supervised professional counsellors answer the telephones. What's Up aims to provide early help to children and teach them skills that will help prevent the development of major problems later in their lives.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People aims to enhance the independence and well-being of deaf and severely hearing-impaired New Zealanders through the provision of specially-trained Hearing Dogs, to internationally recognised standards.

For further information about the Beneficiaries, visit www.whatsup.co.nz and www.hearingdogs.org.nz.