HFH Australia’s Inaugural Gala Dinner Raises A$65,000

June 9th, 2011

Money Raised For ‘1,000 Homes For Hope’ Campaign To Help Families In Australia And Asia-Pacific Region

(Clockwise from top left) Jo Brennan, CEO of HFH Australia; Australian radio and TV personality Angela Catterns; Habitat volunteer and QBE LMI senior executive Jenny Boddington; writer and comedian Wendy Harmer.

SYDNEY, 9th June 2011: Habitat for Humanity Australia garnered strong support at its inaugural gala dinner held recently in Sydney.

Through a live auction, raffle and other donations, HFH Australia raised about A65,000 (US69,500) in support of its 1,000 Homes for Hope campaign which was launched during the dinner.

The campaign aims to transform the lives of 1,000 families in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region through safe, decent and affordable housing.

In addition, HFH Australia will support community-based initiatives such as water and sanitation facilities, and livelihood and educational opportunities.

At the dinner held at The American Club in Sydney, about 120 guests heard Virginia Walters, a home partner shared how Habitat transformed lives. Another speaker, Jenny Boddington, a senior executive at QBE LMI, spoke of her experience during HFH Australia’s Hand In Hand Build in Nepal in March.

Auction items which were donated by corporate sponsors and supporters included a trip for two to New York, courtesy of Delta Airways and Marriott Hotels; a private lunch for four with Nick Greiner, former premier of New South Wales state, at Café Sydney; a cocktail party for 30 as well as two volunteer places on HFH Australia’s Nine Dragons Build in Vietnam in December, courtesy of World Expeditions and Vietnam Airlines.