Following a week of fundraising events, Hilton Sydney has presented St Vincent de Paul Society with the keys to a brand new Vinnies Van to support their Vinnies Vans program that feeds hundreds of thousands of vulnerable members of our community each year.
Over the course of three events, Hilton Sydney’s driveway was transformed into a unique event space attracting a crowd of national and local attendees to celebrate the launch of the Classic Lifestyle – The Hope Edition book and raise vital funds for Vinnies.
The line-up of events included an experiential cocktail party with multiple food stations on Wednesday evening and a Classic Long Lunch for 100 showcasing some of the country’s finest produce on Friday, both of which were attended by Australia’s top CEOs and business executives as well as suppliers and clients of both Hilton and Vinnies.
Finally, Sunday saw a vibrant brunch take place in Glass Brasserie with live music, themed buffets and items for auction including chef Phil Harte’s special Veuve Clicquot champagne scones, which alone raised an impressive $4000 at auction.
Malcolm Zancanaro General Manager of Hilton Sydney said, “Homelessness is a cause that is close to our hearts at Hilton Sydney and the work of the Vinnies is essential, especially in the current climate. As part of Hilton’s vision to spread the light and warmth of hospitality we wanted to do something tangible to support Vinnies at this time of year and ensure our involvement makes a real difference for the New South Wales community.
“Drawing on Hilton Sydney’s experience as a market leader in delivering impactful events and our 49-year history of hospitality and engagement with the community, we enlisted the skills of our dedicated team to create a series of dynamic events to raise awareness, drive attendance and raise much needed funds for Vinnies.
“For the first time ever, we closed off and transformed the driveway of Hilton Sydney into an eye-catching long lunch venue to attract CEOs and executives from across Australia to support the cause. Together with the generous contributions of our sponsors and partners, our fundraising efforts have raised enough for a new Vinnies Van and its continued upkeep, allowing Vinnies to continue feeding and supporting our homeless and most vulnerable,” he said.
Generous contributions of prizes by companies including Hilton Australasia, Tadros Travel, Moet & Chandon, Bells at Killcare, Lion, Frigcorp, Sheldon and Hammond, Natalie Anne and Qatar Airways, saw domestic and international getaways, original artworks and signature dining experiences amongst the many items available for auction throughout the week, which along with the collection of generous cash donations from guests, raised a whopping $110k for Vinnies.
Event host, chef, author and long-time supporter of Vinnies, Phile Harte, said “This year’s CLASSIC LIFESTYLE – The Hope Edition, has been dedicated to the ongoing struggle of the homeless and the tireless work done by the Vinnies Vans team of volunteers headed up by Josie Charbel.
“Each week, when I can I go out with the team to cook and support the vans, I see firsthand how valuable this service is. This is why I have donated all proceeds from the sale of the Classic book towards the purchase of a new food van in collaboration with the Hilton Sydney.”
Vinnies Vans Manager Josie Charbel said “Partnering with Hilton Sydney and their stakeholders has not only raised awareness of people experiencing homelessness within NSW but has raised crucial funds to expand our reach and impact with a new Van Services by 2025 in the Wagga Wagga region.
“Our Vans have seen a drastic increase in the number of people accessing the service over the past 12 months. We’re also seeing a greater number of families, single mothers and those on low incomes depending on our Vans Services to ensure their basic needs are met. These events at Hilton Sydney gave us the opportunity to bring people together to give those experiencing homelessness hope and live a life of dignity,” she said.
Under the direction of Executive chef Hamish Neale, Hilton Sydney corporate guests and partners at the events were treated to indulgent specialty dishes utilising premium seafood donated by Huon Tasmania and T.O.P. Fish including salmon sashimi, caviar, oysters and gin and dill salmon gravlax as well as Chinese egg crepes, steak tartare, delectable desserts and more.
The events were also made possible with the generous donations of event suppliers including Andrew Pearce Wines, Encore, Sydney Fireworks and Pyro, Chandeliers to Die for and Harbourside Decorators.
Wallabies great Matt Burke, The Choirboys’ Mark Gable, Vinnies ambassador and Rabbitoh Jai Arrow and Presenter Sandra Sully were also amongst the supporters and guests throughout the week.
