Some of Bristol’s top businesses are backing the Lord Mayor’s Children’s Appeal Gift Gala to raise money for the city’s most disadvantaged children.
The Gift Gala is one of several events in aid of the Appeal that runs through the year to raise money for clothes, gifts and food vouchers for 1,650 children in most need at Christmas.
This year the popular event will be held at Ashton Gate Stadium for the first time and is being supported by many of last year’s business sponsors as well as new names.
Specialist car dealer Rybrook, which last year opened a state-of-the-art showroom at Cribbs Causeway, is once again platinum sponsor. GWR, law firm Ashfords, Clifton Estate Agents have renewed their gold sponsorship and are joined by IT outsourcing group Soitron UK for the first time.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is once again sponsoring the Gift Gala auction while third-time backer executive recruitment firm Moon Consulting is balloon sponsor.
Other first-time backers are Spire Healthcare, which is sponsoring the entertainment, and property agency Burston Cook, which is backing a film that will explain the work of the appeal.
The charity has been raising money for local children for nearly 100 years.
Rybrook marketing executive Hannah Downs said: “Following the launch of our Rybrook Bristol showroom, we are delighted to be supporting the Lord Mayor’s Gift Gala Dinner again this year. We have enjoyed being very much a part of the city since opening in 2016 and it is important for us to be involved in and support the Bristol community.”
Ashfords partner and head of its Bristol office, Chris Dyson, said: “The Lord Mayor’s Gift Gala makes a real difference to disadvantaged children in the city and we are proud to once again be gold sponsors of this event.
“As a firm CSR is very important to us and we pride ourselves on being committed to the communities in which we operate.”
Soitron UK COO Daniel Olsson added: “Soitron’s entry in the UK market has been very successful and we would like to offer something back to the community. This is one way of showing our respect to the country in which we operate our business.”
Spire Bristol Hospital director Dan Rees Jones said: “As the only local independent healthcare provider that treats children from the age of three, we have a vested interest in the health and wellbeing of children, which is why we have chosen to support the Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal.”
Enterprise Rent-A-Car senior vice-president Carl Henderson said: “We are absolutely delighted to once again support The Lord Mayor’s Appeal again after a wonderful event last year with lots of money raised for such a fantastic local cause in Bristol.
“Enterprise is still a family-owned business with fundamental values of strengthening the communities that we serve, and with a network of eight branches and 50 employees who live and work in the Bristol and West region, it is really important to us to be able to support such local causes as this.”
Moon Consulting founder Vanessa Moon said: “Moon Consulting is honoured to support the Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal and Gift Gala. With all proceeds going to charity, the Gift Gala has fast become one of Bristol’s not-to-be-missed charitable events.”
The dinner is also supported by Barclays through its pound-for-pound scheme and volunteer fundraising team members.
The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Jeff Lovell, said: “This event could not take place without the generous support of all our sponsors and we thank them for making it possible.
“They join us in making a real difference to literally hundreds of children. The funds we raise mean they have a little of what many of us take for granted at Christmas.”
Tickets for the Gift Gala are on sale now. To book, click here
Pictured: Lord Mayor of Bristol Jeff Lovell with sponsors of his Children’s Appeal Gift Gala. Photo by Jon Craig @joncraig.co.uk
