Celebrating 10 years as one of the most successful charities supporting sick children, the sunSCHine gala attracted the who’s who of inspirational women, philanthropists, Sydney’s power couples, celebrities and the top end of business.
Close to 500 guests attended the sold out event presented by MPA, raising close to $1.2m benefiting The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. This follows the $4.5 million raised over the last nine years by the Foundation’s signature event.
Guy Sebastian
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, comedian Mary Coustas, also known as ‘Effie’, brought tears and laughter to the event as MC, and auctioneer Scott Kennedy-Green of McGrath deftly worked the room to open the hearts and wallets of the generous attendees. The event raised much-needed funds from the glittering ensemble of guests including power couples Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes, Shane and Lee Watson, Chris and Nicky Love-Joye, Robby and Sarah Ingham, David and Dana Lewis. Other notable guests included designers Camilla Franks and Nicky Zimmerman, The Block Judge and SunSCHine Ambassador Darren Palmer, The Real Housewives of Sydney stars Nicole Gazal O’Neil and Matty Samaei, beauty entrepreneurs Kirsten Carriol and Elle Ferguson and Herbert Appleroth of the Appleroth Future Fund.
SunScHIne 2019 Committee
Celebrity Chef, Justin North treated guests to a decadent three course meal as they were entertained by Aria Award-winning artists Guy Sebastian and Samantha Jade. Marnie Skillings brought her signature modern touch to style and theme the ballroom. The evening concluded as guests celebrated on the dancefloor with DJ Peter Dolso.
Nicky and Chris Joye
The tenth anniversary also saw committee members Sarah Hogan (Co-Chair and MPA Presenting Partner) Nicky Love Joye (Co-Chair) lead a committee of inspirational women who created magic delivering on what is now a highlight of the social calendar and a serious fund raiser for an important cause.
“SunSCHine 2019 was an amazing success and our best event ever. I am incredibly proud to have served on the committee for the last five years, and as co-chair for the past two years, with what is a truly extraordinary group of women. SunSCHine’s emergence as one of Australia’s most powerful philanthropic initiatives is a tribute to our partners, friends, patrons and many supporters who have actively invested in the well-being of the children of today and tomorrow,” said Nicky Love Joye, Co-Chair of sunSCHine.
Camilla Franks (left) & Matty Samei (right)
The generosity continued well into the night as mum, Maria Stratilas, spoke of how her daughter, 15-year-old Tia, suffered a ruptured brain aneurism, blood clot and subsequent stroke. After life-saving surgery, once Tia woke up from her induced coma, she had to learn how to eat, walk and talk again. She spent almost nine months at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
Shane and Lee Watson
“The heart and compassion of everyone who has supported sunSCHine – from the fabulous committee to supporters – has helped raise more than $4.5 million for Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation to date. We are very fortunate for their generosity and their decade-long legacy of making a difference in the lives of sick kids,” said Nicola Stokes, CEO at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.
The Funds raised from the night will continue to support the latest equipment, like Vital Signs Monitors, ground-breaking research, and the best and brightest people, to help give sick kids in Hospital the very best care.
Donate via the link in sunSCHine website https://www.sunschine.org.au
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