A group of local philanthropists has launched a new gala event into Perth’s busy market with the inaugural Purple Hearts Ball to be held next week.
While some charities are moving away from traditional balls and gala dinners as their flagship fundraising events, Westpac has provided a timely boost for the new event, being run as the key source of funds for a team of Perth-based women walking in the national Weekend to End Women’s Cancers.
Profits from the Purple Hearts Ball will go to the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Perth, with Westpac having contributed more than $15,000 towards the target of $100,000.
While other charities are increasingly diversifying their fundraising measures to obtain the corporate dollar, Purple Hearts event organiser Rabia Siddique said people still wanted to be involved in these large events.
However, she said there was plenty of competition for corporate support, as an effect of both the overall economic environment and the large number of similar events.
Organisers of the Peet Op Shop Ball for Anglicare WA said their op shop dress code offered a point of difference, and the event next month had become a staple on the philanthropic calendar.
Anglicare WA’s Jennifer Duffecy said getting new supporters to attend the event was tough in the current environment.
She said attracting corporate involvement for new events was even more difficult, as many companies were now sticking with charities familiar to them.
