Business Club raises £60,000 for baby hospice in star studded event!
Zoe’s Place Business Club recently hosted a Gala Ball at Coombe Abbey which raised over £60,000 for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice. The exclusive, black-tie event was proudly sponsored by Amazon Coventry and attended by celebrities and ambassadors of the charity.
The event raises not just funds, but awareness of Zoe’s Place’s mission of supporting children and their families to live life to its fullest in Coventry. Since the business group started 8 years ago, it has raised over half a million pounds through fundraising events for the Coventry based baby hospice.
Peter Jarvis, Chair of Zoe’s Place Business Group shared his continued commitment to Zoe’s Place – “The determination of the Business Group to play its part for Zoe’s Place has allowed us to hit a milestone we are all so proud to have achieved. The money raised is invaluable to the children, their families and the Zoe’s Place Team.”
The evening’s success was down to a variety of many fundraising activities. The live auction featured exclusive items and experiences generously donated by local businesses and supporters and a silent auction provided an opportunity for secret bidding, creating some friendly competition amongst the guests.
The Gala Ball premiered Zoe’s Place Christmas Appeal, shedding light on the hospice’s profound impact and the critical need for sustained backing. Heartwarming moments were shared by parents of Ivan, a local three-year-old who attends Zoe’s Place. The emotional appeal for support included the following message from Elissa, Ivan’s mum: “The therapies Zoe’s Place provide aren’t funded by the local authority, they are funded by you, fundraisers and members of the public so please know it is so important because it really does make a difference.”
Adding to the glamour were celebrity hosts including Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace, who hosted a lively Q&A session which led to a surprise auction lot, a dinner party invite to his home in Kent for the top bidder. This alone accumulated £9,000 in bids on the night and the event was compered superbly by X-Factor star, Jordan Williams, who amazed everyone with his musical talents as well as expertly hosting on the night.
This was the third time Jordan has hosted the ball, who shared some heartfelt words about the cause. “Being a dad now, God forbid I am ever in a position where I had to use Zoe’s Place, but if I did then one hundred percent, I know that they would be there for me and that’s all you can ask for. If you are thinking of donating or sponsoring a charity, then look no further, they are amazing.”
Ian Carr, Head of Fundraising at Zoe’s Place, extended his thanks to the Business Club: “The consistent generosity of our corporate supporters is truly remarkable. Their contributions, surpassing £500,000 over the years, reflect their dedicated commitment to helping our cause. To all our supporters, on behalf of the families under our care, your generosity and support means the world to us.”
The Business Group is rebranding in the New Year to the Zoe’s Place Business Club where companies can benefit from being part of the Zoe’s Place business community by joining the club and becoming established partners and receive official recognition for their support as well as networking opportunities and discounts to the Business Club events such as the Gala Ball. The Club will be looking for organisations and individuals who can support or share expertise to enrich their charitable offering. If you would like a conversation about joining the business club because you or your organisation want to support a worthy cause, please contact the Coventry fundraising team on 02476 361675 or make an enquiry by email: hellocoventry@zoes-place.org.uk.
