The Hunter’s professional accounting community has raised more than $33,000 to support and enhance education opportunities for young people across the region.
More than 240 local members of Certified Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA Australia), the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ), the finance community and their guests gathered at Newcastle City Hall for the 2015 Bean Counters Ball on Friday, 30 October 2015.
In the five years since the black-tie event was established the Bean Counters Ball has raised more than $100,000, which has been donated directly to local charities Samaritans and Hunter TAFE Foundation to support young people as they work towards sustainable careers in the local economy.
Samaritans Student Accommodation Resident and 2015 Hunter Region Volunteer of The Year, Tegan Butts attended the event and shared her inspirational story about how she is working towards her dream of becoming a paramedic and helping to raise awareness about domestic violence through her own experiences.
Chair of the Bean Counters Ball Committee, Chad Stead said the success of this event is a result of the impressive collaboration across the regions accounting and finance community.
“Year upon year the generosity of local businesses who sponsor and donate to this event enable us to continue providing much needed support and encouragement for young people in our region,” Chad said.
“By working with Samaritans and Hunter TAFE Foundation we are able to directly support young people to achieve their career aspirations no matter what their hardship ‚Äì whether it is the risk of homelessness or the daily struggle balancing family and work life with higher education.”
Major support has been received from gold event sponsors Rapsey Griffiths, McCullough Robertson, OAS Technology Group, Bottrell Business Consultants, Roberts Legal and Purser Corporate Communication. A further 15 Hunter businesses have also supported the event.
The 2015 Bean Counters Ball engaged the help of well-known comedian, Fiona O’Loughlin by arrangement with Saxton Speakers Bureau.
Image | Shelly Ross-O’Brien, Tegan Butts, Louise Ross
Photograph from Photographed by Edward Cross
