Charity’s golden wind-ball

Secret Comm Games access up for grabs at gala

COMMONWEALTH Games organisers will auction top-secret, money-can’t-buy Games experiences at a gala fundraising ball they hope will raise millions of dollars for locals in need.

The first glimpse of the GC2018 medals will also be revealed at the ball, to be held at The Star on November 4, with all money raised going to newly announced official Games charity, the Gold Coast Community Fund.

The announcement is a major coup for the local organisation, as Commonwealth Games organisers usually choose global charity partners.

The fund, sponsored by the Bulletin, has supported the Gold Coast for more than 16 years as a fundraising umbrella organisation, distributing funds to charities, community organisations and people in need of emergency support.

Gold Coast Community Fund chairman Rutland Smith said the organisation hoped the gala dinner would be a record-breaking fundraiser for the Gold Coast.

“This partnership will create a stronger Gold Coast community by reaching people who, through hardship or other circumstances would potentially not experience or benefit from the Games being in their backyard,” he said.

“The fund is run totally by volunteers and a committee of influential Gold Coasters with a passion for the city and welfare of its citizens, ensuring as much money as possible goes to recipients instead of administration.

“GC2018 will be the biggest event we will experience in our lifetime making us all the more enthusiastic to make the most of the opportunity with the legacy being a greater awareness of our organisation and those in the community in need of support.”

GOLDOC CEO Mark Peters said choosing a single charity had been a challenge.

“We have given much consideration to charitable partnerships with the final choice made easier by the fact that GCCF objectives meant support across a broad sector of the community and for those with many and varied needs.”

Glasgow 2014 charity partner UNICEF raised more than $8 million before and during the last Games, with another $3.3 million in the pipeline post-Games.

A UNICEF campaign for children televised during the opening ceremony raised more than $4 million from 50 countries in 40 minutes.