What a fabulous night it was! Shanthi Foundation recently had a fund raising dinner dance aptly named ” A Night of Compassion ” at the Don Moore Community Centre in Carlingford, on the 12th of March 2016. It was a highly anticipated event with the tickets being sold out 4 weeks in advance! The people who were lucky enough to get tickets for this thoroughly well organised event were not disappointed!
The guest were greeted and ushered to their respective tables by a bevy of beautiful young girls. All guest who had been to the Don Moore Community Centre for prior events were truly amazed at the level of transformation that had taken place through the efforts of the committee. The modest venue portraying one of an extreme high class dance venue combined with the décor & ambiance set the mood for the evening. The colour theme of the night was white, silver and black. The white Tiffany chairs , with crisp white table clothes and the simple but elegant silver table decor with white fairy lights was breathtaking
The wide rear view projector screen at the centre of the stage was showing kids drinking clean water for the first time in their lives, Shanthi Nurses visiting homes to look after patients with cancer & CKDu set the scene for what was to be expected later in the night
The MC Mr Senani Gunasekera kicked things off by introducing the chief guest Hon Mr Ray Wiiliams state MP for Castle Hill & Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney and other dignitaries such as the deputy high commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia Mrs Himalee Arunathileke who graced the occasion.
Mr Ray Wiiliams gave an eloquent speech commending Shanthi Foundation for giving back not only to Sri Lanka but to Australia as well
This was followed by a informative speech by Ass. Prof Ghauri Aggarwal head of the Centre for Palliative Care at Concord Hospital in Sydney, which was the Australian project ShanthiFoundation was supporting this year.
The Shanthi Foundation video presentation prepared by Mr Kris Kulasekera that followed kept everybody mesmerised by the enormity of the issues & Shanthi Foundation’s response.
Immediately following this was a very informative & emotive speech by the Founder & Chairman of Shanthi Foundation Palliative Care Consultant Dr Suharsha Kanathigoda which brought the already primed audience to tears
To give a breather a magnificent buffet dinner was served
During and immediately after the dinner the crowd was entertained to some light entertainment by Mr Louie Greco which kept everybody captivated & enthralled
DJ Neil kept the large crowd entertained with some beautiful music which got almost everybody on to the dance floor
The sound & lighting was expertly handled by Mr Shanaka Tennekoon from Event 360
Most importantly the people dug deep during the event, raffle & auction to help Patients with life limiting illnesses such as cancer & CKDu both here in Australia & in Sri Lanka.
It was a night to remember,possibly the best organised & executed function of its kind ever in Sydney and thank all those who attended the event. Shanthi Foundation is extremely grateful to all the companies and individuals for their support through sponsorships and various contributions.
Well done Shanthi team ably led by Mrs Sonja Gunasekera – you have delivered once again for the people in need!
Please visit OZLanka.com for the pics
Kind regards
Dr Suharsha Kanathigoda
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