The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) in Randwick is $214,050 better off thanks to this year’s annual Coogee Bay Hotel Charity Gold Day.
This is the 22nd year for the golf day, which took place last week, and over that time participants have raised over $3.1m for the SCHF. The donations have helped fund fellowship programs, two minimally invasive surgical theatres, a clinical wing in the Ainsworth building and construction of the Bright Alliance building.
At the event, Coogee Bay Hotel Managing Director, Chris Cheung, announced that the Hotel will commit a further $500,000 to SCHF. This next round of funding will support an all-important Fellowship in Neurology.
“At Coogee Bay Hotel, we pride ourselves on a long history of being at the heart of the local community,” says Larissa O’Connor, GM of Marketing and Communications at Coogee Bay Hotel.
“Our annual charity golf day has been a staple event on our calendar for over two decades; bringing together our industry in a combined mission to raise money for the research of childhood disease and the treatment of our State’s youngest patients. We are thrilled to announce that the funds raised at this year’s event will see us surpass $3m in contributions to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.”
This year’s event saw 160 participants including South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Sam Burgess, former NRL star Braith Anasta and 2018 Australian Open Golf runner-up, Dimi Papadatos.
For the first time in the event’s history, one lucky golfer scored a hole in one on the day. Michael Lokic of Bondi will be driving away with a brand new $100,000 Audi S5 Coupe.
Nicola Stokes, CEO of the Foundation, attended the event alongside Foundation Patron, Professor Les White.
“We are so grateful to Chris and to all of the team at the Coogee Bay Hotel. Thank you for your 22 years of amazing support,” Stokes said.
“The 2019 Golf Day was an incredible milestone for two reasons. Firstly, you have now raised more than $3m to help sick kids at Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick and secondly, the Hole in One prize was won.”
She added: “For me the event demonstrates Chris’s long-term philosophy of philanthropy and the importance that he places on working with – and being part of – his local community. It was truly a very special day.”