On Saturday night, a 63-year-old association will present a $25,000 cheque to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, taking the annual total of their donation to $50,000 this year for the lives of children in need.

The Greek Young Matrons’ Association (GYMA), established in 1951, will hold its 63rd Annual Debutante Ball, and present a cheque to the foundation to make sure sick children get the help they need.

The GYMA has generously supported the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation since 1995, and each year they donate more funds to help brighten the lives of sick and injured children from NSW and beyond.

During their many years of support, funds donated have touched many areas of the hospital and include purchasing vital equipment, providing support to various services and improving wards. In more recent times, GYMA has naming rights to the Outpatients Department and is a significant supporter of the brand new Short Stay Surgical Ward.

“The Association’s main commitments are to aid and contribute to hospitals and institutions caring for children. I feel privileged to be leading for the second year an inspirational group of hardworking women, who dedicate their time freely for the benefit of the larger community of NSW,” said Cathy Economy, President.

Ms Economy, who calls herself a relative newcomer to the association after being on the committee for seven years, says all committee members dedicate their time and efforts on a voluntary basis and with other 250 members, the association is growing stronger.

The Association started as a mother’s group, for migrant mothers who would come together for company and female bonding and advice for their young babies. Together they realised how fortunate they were not only financially but because they had healthy young children.

“They decided to raise money and buy cots and stuffed toys for sick children in the hospital. From there it grew, they did house events, then having functions to where we are today,” she says.

“It breaks your heart when they are so vulnerable and young and they have so many challenges,” she tells Neos Kosmos.

“The needs of a hospital are great; the government only provides them with bricks and mortar, they don’t actually provide everything that goes inside that hospital that comes from soft funding, people like us and other groups.”

Although the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation is biggest benefactor of the fundraising efforts of the association, they also raise funds for other groups as well as donate money to Australian states following natural disasters such as floods and bush fires, as well as donating money to Greece following the crisis.
“Every second year we give $10,000 to the Estia Foundation, which is respite care for children with disabilities that is open to the whole community, and not just Greek Australians.”

Apart from the Estia Foundation, the GYMA donates to St Basil’s Nursing Home; St Andrews Theological College; Sydney University Archaeology Department and the Greek Welfare Centre, among many others.

All donations are accomplished through fundraising efforts, which include dinners, lunches and fashion parades culminating in the Annual Debutante Ball, their biggest fundraising event, which tonight will attract between 500 to 800 guests.

For more information on the association, visit https://www.facebook.com/greekyoungmatrons