Gold Dinner breaks fundraising record
Members of Sydney’s Jewish community played crucial roles in planning, promoting and running the record-breaking event.
A new world fundraising record of $19.2 million for children’s hospital charity gala events was set last month at the Sydney Children’s Hospital’s Foundation’s (SCHF) glamorous Gold Dinner 2023.
It transformed Sydney Town Hall into a stunning Wizard of Oz-style setting, complete with a golden carpet entrance, representing a yellow brick road.
More than 400 people – a mix of Australia’s leading philanthropists, business executives and celebrities – enjoyed a night to remember at the invitation-only event, while raising funds for the Kookaburra Centre – a complex care facility about to be built at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Members of Sydney’s Jewish community played crucial roles in planning, promoting and running the record-breaking event.
These included mother-and-son combination Linda and Joshua Penn, who became the event’s organising committee co-chairs in 2022, replacing Monica Saunders-Weinberg after her successful three-year term.
When asked what sparked his longstanding support for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Joshua Penn – who joined the committee four years ago, and is now the first Jewish male serving as its chair – told The AJN the reason is very close to his heart.
“My sister, Alexandra, was born premature, at 26 weeks, at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead,” he said.
“She survived thanks to the expert care and equipment available at the hospital.
“That’s why we’ve raised funds for the foundation for many years.
“And it was wonderful we all [his extended family] attended this year’s Gold Dinner.
“That aside, donating to help sick kids is such a good cause, and as a father of children aged two and five, it’s something I feel very strongly about.”
In 2022 in their first year as co-chairs, the Gold Dinner raised $9 million, and the Penns said they feel “immensely grateful” to all the individuals, companies and sponsors who made it possible to more than double that total, and set a new fundraising record, this year.
“Our commitment to philanthropy is rooted to our belief that all children deserve access to the highest quality paediatric care, regardless of their circumstances,” they said. “With these funds, we can build world-class facilities that cater to the complex medical needs of children, ensuring that they receive the care they deserve.”
Joshua added, “It’s pretty amazing to be able to work with my mum as co-chair, and bounce ideas off each other … it’s not something you get the opportunity to do very often.” He also paid credit to past members of the organising committee, which included Jewish members Richard Weinberg [Monica’s husband], event producer specialist Michael Filler, and music industry executive Dan Rosen.
Thanking the current committee team of 14, he reserved special mention for Benita Kam, a wedding and luxury events planner, who has run BNT Management for 25 years.
“We’re very lucky to have Benita – she and her team produced this year’s Gold Dinner superbly.
“It was pretty amazing and glamorous – totally transforming the Sydney Town Hall – at a level I hadn’t seen before in my life.”
The evening’s entertainment line-up was headlined by Conrad Sewell, and also featured a children’s choir, and a beautiful performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow by opera singer and Moriah College graduate Eden Shifroni.
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