This year’s Share the Dream, the annual cornerstone fundraiser organised by the UpsideDowns Education Trust, raised close to $50,000 for the cause.
The event, dubbed “Come Dance With The Stars”, hosted a number of celebrities from TV One’s Dancing With The Stars. Barbara Kendall, who chose the trust as her charity when she competed in the contest this year, was guest speaker, and she and her dancing partner Jonny Williams thrilled the audience with a dance from their television routine. Former All Black and Dancing With The Stars contestant Norm Hewitt and his wife Arlene, who are the trust’s ambassadors, also attended the glitzy dinner. Another group of stars were those who dug deep into their pockets for the fundraising auctions. “People couldn’t have been more generous,” says trust chairwoman Melanie Watson.
Of the $70,000 gross raised from the auctions, seat sales and donations, the trust expects to be able to put $45,000-$50,000 towards the cause after covering the cost of hosting the event and funding the reserve price on some of the auction items.