With a “Bling For the Girls White Party – Hamptons Style” theming, the Bling for the Girls fundraising committee worked with local florist Caroline Williams from Bark & Berry to bring an elegant confection of white in stunning floral displays, white marquees, a sea of white hanging pom poms, and over 100 metres of hand stitched bunting to the poolside party setting at the house of committee member Niccole Warren.
The organising committee was overwhelmed with the generosity of guests who purchased raffle tickets and bid with zeal on auction items — all donated from local businesses. One of the highlights of the fun afternoon was the lap underwater a guest did to raise an additional $550 for the cause.
The $23,000 raised surpassed the fundraising goal of $15,000 for the event, and now brings the total funds raised by the Bling for the Girls fundraising committee to over $65,000 across four events.
This year a number of initiatives for local women were funded, including a major renovation of the Hastings Women and Children’s Refuge bathroom – project managed by Scott Strahorn from Strahorn Constructions.
Some of the funds from this year’s event will pay for the installation of new flooring in the refuge, supported by Verde Bamboo.
After 19 years of service to thousands of women and children in the Port Macquarie Hastings community, the Refuge residential facility has been in desperate need of fresh facilities.
“The women and children that use the Refuge are traumatised and exhausted and deserve to be welcomed into an environment which assures them that they are valued and cared for,” said Gemma Morley, Manager of the Hastings Women and Children’s Refuge.
A resident of the refuge sent a special message to the event, thanking all who support the Bling for the Girls fundraising initiatives.
“Over the last couple of months we have enjoyed immensely focusing on the transformation of your donated bathroom. When the way ahead seems at times unclear the simple pleasures in life are overlooked and forgotten. But not this bath! We were all so excited and had candles and bubbles ready to go. Thank you so much for the clean, new, fresh and white place where we can relax and feel human again. Muchly appreciated…”
The Bling for the Girls afternoon was a celebration of women helping women, with Brenda Gillingham sharing heart wrenching statistics on sexual abuse and domestic violence, and thanking the 100 women at the event for helping to cast light on these crimes, that “thrive in secrecy.”
