The energy at the opulent Grand Hyatt, Savoy Ballroom on Saturday, 8 September 2018, was undeniably electric. Our annual gala dinner celebrated the power of love and collaboration. It was a night to fundraise for China’s orphaned and vulnerable children and to introduce a special milestone, changing our name from Half the Sky Foundation Australia to OneSky for all Children Foundation Australia (‘OneSky Australia’).
This year’s Gala featured a highly coveted selection of auction items all donated by friends of OneSky Australia and high energy musical entertainment by Harrison Craig and John Paul Young. With the support of our title sponsor Ifeng.com, including our Diamond Sponsors: Australia Post, BNU Melody, Bunnings, BWM Dentsu, Canturi, Coles, Kmart, Kojo, Samways, Target, wellcom and Wesfarmers, as well as our enthusiastic volunteers and our glittering guests, an impressive sum of over $818,000 was raised.
Deanne Bevan, OneSky Australia’s visionary CEO, spoke about the exciting future of OneSky Australia and its continued quest to benefit orphaned and at -risk children who lived far away, but who were still entitled to a life of love, hope and progress. OneSky Australia’s new direction now included expanding support into rural villages as well as orphanages in Guizhou province – one of China’s most poorest regions.
Again this year, OneSky’s real-life inspirations, Maya and Anya Bowen joined the annual festivities with Anya sharing the role of Master of Ceremonies with Guy Russo (CEO, Wesfarmers Store Division – Kmart and Target and Global OneSky Chairman). It was so heart-warming to witness Anya’s blooming confidence and to sense her continued passion for the Foundation and its goals.
Maya Bowen as keynote speaker, shared that her adoption from a Chinese orphanage was the catalyst for helping over 160,000 of her ‘brothers and sisters’, orphaned and at-risk children who were now reaching their full potential thanks to the love and support of their global family. Her hope for positive world health and well-being was summed up in her emotional and powerful message:“if we invest in their future, we invest in our future too.”
The OneSky Australia team was thrilled to catch up with so many friends on this memorable night. If you would like to continue your conversations, please contact our Director of Development, Carman Lau (carmen@onesky.org.au) to discuss any ideas that you may have.
With love and appreciation from Deanne, Lauren O’Hara, Carmen, Lauren Thompson and Veronica.
Written by Veronica Reich
* To view the glitz and glamour of the evening, please click here.
