With the help of more than 850 people at a dinner fundraiser in March, the Konstantina Angelique Gribilas Foundation has raised close to $400,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick.

The dinner was the culmination of a number of fundraising events including a radiothon to help raise money for the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital.
Kostas and Poppy Gribilas started the foundation to give back to the hospital that had helped them through a very difficult time in their lives.

Their infant daughter Konstantina Angelique passed away suddenly from heart troubles at the hospital in 2013, but the care she and the family received pushed them to do whatever they could to help the hospital.

The family raised an impressive sum of $47,000 in their radiothon, but surpassed all expectations at the dinner fundraiser on March 20.

Hosted by Greek Australian comedian Mary Coustas, the dinner saw the community open their pockets to help the hospital.

More than $150,000 was raised from the ticket price alone, while the auctions on the night helped push the sum up towards the half a million mark.

The hospital hopes to purchase lifesaving new equipment for the ICU.

CEO of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation Leanne Warner says they will be buying new defibrillators and pacemakers, and looking into purchasing a new laryngoscope, humidifiers and specialised mattresses for young patients.

“There’s been a whole array of quite desperately needed equipment that this particular event has been able to fund,” she tells Neos Kosmos.

“Normal hospitals have more adult-sized equipment and it’s important in intensive care and a paediatrics department that the equipment suits all sizes.”

With more than 900 children entering the ICU every year, the equipment will be integral in ensuring quick diagnoses and a higher rate of survival.

“It’s an amazing gift that they’ve left for all those families that are yet to visit us,” Ms Warner says.

Those wanting to donate can deposit at:
St George Bank
Konstantina Angelique Gribilas Fund
BSB: 112879
Account number: 493957854