Over $100 000 will go to support children with special needs after Radiomarathon held its annual fundraiser in Sydney last weekend.
She was very moved and she couldn’t really speak for a few minutes even though she was meant to be emceeing.
Mary Coustas hosted the Laiki Bank event, which was attended by around 400 people at the Hilton Sydney’s Grand Ballroom.
NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos was a guest speaker on the night.
He has been a supporter of Radiomarathon since 2002, when he paid tribute to their work in the NSW Legislative Council.
“In 2010 Radiomarathon has distributed some $276,000 to over 37 charities across Australia, helping hundreds of kids,” he told the gala event.
“The spirit and determination displayed by these children encapsulates the very reason for the charity.
“I commend the good-will of the many volunteers and benefactors associated with the charity wishing it every success now and in the future.”
Laiki Bank spokesperson Fotis Zervas said the money raised will go towards hospitals, support organisations and schools that support kids with special needs.
He said host Mary Coustas did a great job of entertaining the crowd, adding that she was “visibly moved” after a DVD showing interviews with the organisations the fundraiser supports.
“She was very moved and she couldn’t really speak for a few minutes even though she was meant to be emceeing,” he said.
“But she was very professional, and she was able to turn it into something that wasn’t awkward, where everyone was moved with her.”
Guests were also treated to dancing from the Latin Tropicana Dance Sensation, and DJ JamesD kept the crowd dancing well into the night.
Radiomarathon will host its Melbourne fundraising gala event on 13 November at the Grand Hyatt, and will be hosted by barrister and actor Con Kylias.
But Mr Zervas said there was no pressure on the Melbourne event to raise as much as Sydney.
“We don’t really make it about the money, we try to make the guests have fun as well,” he said.