By Clyde Mooney
Now in its tenth year, Hotels Have Hearts has raised over $2 million for Sydney's homeless, and the organisers hope to build on this number at an upcoming event.
HHH is a voluntary initiative involving NSW hoteliers that has raised over $2 million since its inception in 2002 for Matthew Talbot Homeless Services, a Special Work of the St Vincent de Paul Society.
This year’s Gala Dinner is to be held at Hilton Sydney on May 29 and is expected to attract the biggest players in the hotel industry.
Speaking to TheShout, coordinator Frances Roqueza said that the event wouldn’t be possible with the vast amounts of time and money from hotels, meeting every few weeks, coordinating support, and donating and generating raffle items.
St Vincent de Paul President, Beverley Kerr, says: “The total gift of Hotels Have Hearts amounts to much more than just financial support — it builds skills and confidence, keeps families together, provides comfort and a safe environment for people to heal, and allows marginalised people to retain or regain their dignity — and it is the totality of this gift that we recognise with gratitude.”
The HHH Committee includes Kim Maloney – chair (Maloney Hotel Corporation), John Ryan (Ryan’s Hotel Group), Steven Harvey (Cheers Bar & Grill), John Lucas (John Lucas Hotel Management), Chris Feros (Feros Group), Martin Short (Short Corp) and Jenny Farrell (Macquarie Hotel).
The Hilton Sydney has been involved for the past ten years and created a giant heart-shaped cake to celebrate this year’s events (pictured below).
Tickets are $195 pp, and available at www.hotelshavehearts.com or by calling (02) 9568 0262.