RICH LISTER GIVES BACK IN THE BEST WAY

On Wednesday night, Rich Lister Annette Presley held a fundraiser at her stunning Takapuna mansion for her girl-empowering charity, Elicit, the Dream-Catching Academy.

Its mission is to elevate, inspire and help realise the dreams of young women, a cause the influential businesswoman has lived and breathed for eight years — talking to schools and mentoring and creating the academy two years ago.

Presley has lovingly redesigned her Cape Cod beach-style house perched on top of Clifton beach and it was the perfect space for a glittering evening where 150 monied folk bid in a charity auction. The guestlist included toymaker Zuru’s Nick Mowbray and Real Housewives of Auckland’s

Gilda Kirkpatrick, Michelle Blanchard and Anne Batley Burton.

Presley, whose wealth was valued at $105 million in last year’s

NBR Rich List tells Spy: “I grew up in South Auckland with best friends in gangs dealing drugs and multi-generational benefit families.

“I understand what it is like to do it tough. I got lucky. I had a guardian angel, my grandmother, who believed in me, saw not what was but what could be, and inspired me through always seeing the best in me, to believe in myself and that my dreams could come true.”

Presley said every cent raised at the auction would go to her hundreds of “dream girls”.

“Some will attend confidence courses; some may attend courses directly in the field they see themselves in, each case is different. They apply, and we assess each case. Many of our girls have now gone on to achieve their dreams and change their lives and their families and the next generation.”

Among an impressive list of auction items was one donated by Presley herself, a Mediterranean cruise for four aboard the SY Delicia, valued at $18,000. The total raised was more than $100,000.