Recently Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) held their annual Red Shoe Ball at the Grand Millennium Auckland. The botanical themed event was a sell out with 450 guests, featuring New Zealand singer/songwriter, Anika Moa as the live entertainment and raising a massive $226,000 to support the families who stay at Ronald McDonald House while their child is receiving medical treatment.
One of the many highlights of the night was the live auction, run by auctioneer Wayne Maguire from Ray White Mission Bay. Deb Ward, Director of Fundraising and Marketing for RMHC, said “having organised and attended many fundraising events, I can hand on heart say I have never seen an auctioneer work the room so incredibly well as Wayne. His energy and his interaction with the crowd was absolutely amazing!”.
Wayne auctioned off eight outstanding live auction items including an ultimate Rarotonga retreat for six people, a signed All Blacks jersey from the Lions tour and a last-minute addition of a private performance from Anika Moa herself. The live auction raised $61,000, an incredible contribution to the funds raised on the night.
It was a night full of great entertainment, superb auctions, outstanding food and a heartfelt family story; reminding everybody that they had helped give families with a hospitalised child what they needed most, each other.
Ray White New Zealand are proud to supporters of RMHC since 2007. They are the country’s leading family charity and take care of more than 3,700 of New Zealand’s families each year. Ronald McDonald Houses endeavour to strengthen Kiwi families who are away from home with a hospitalised child, by ensuring they can remain together through the provision of free accommodation and support services. When a family faces the weight of a child’s illness, the best thing they can do is face it together. Because families are stronger together.