More than $72,000 was raised for Good Sammy at last Thursday’s Camco Engineering Mayor’s Charity Gala Dinner.
The inaugural event hosted by City of Canning was a sell-out, with all proceeds from ticket sales and auction items coming directly to Good Sammy.
In attendance was a who’s who of the City of Canning business community including CEOs and Board Chairs as well as WA Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, Mayors and Local Government Councillors. Unquestionably the VIPs of the night were the many guests with disability, including Good Sammy employee Deb who received a rapturous applause following her speech.
Our CEO Kane Blackman shared with attendees that funds raised on the night would go towards delivering four new Canning-centred social programs that will assist locals with disability, as well as those facing social and economic disadvantage. The programs are:
Ready to Shine program – City of Canning residents with disability will be provided clothes for a job interview from the Cannington and Willetton Good Sammy stores and allocated a personal shopping assistant to help them choose an outfit.
Get Going Voucher program – Good Sammy will provide local support agencies in Canning with vouchers to give Canning residents who are facing social and economic disadvantage, which can be redeemed for clothing, home accessories and children’s toys at Good Sammy stores.
Gardening and Social Enterprise program – Good Sammy will purchase a vehicle, trailer or ride on mowers and employ up to 30 people with disability to provide gardening services within the Canning area.
Traineeships program – Good Sammy will provide five certified traineeships for students with disability from schools located in Canning.
Good Sammy sincerely thanks Mayor Patrick Hall and the City of Canning for choosing Good Sammy to be the beneficiary of its inaugural Mayor’s Charity Gala Dinner. We also extend our thanks to Camco Engineering and other event sponsors and supporters for their generosity – all of which will help Good Sammy continue to create a better future for Western Australians with disability through employment opportunities, pathways and training,” Mr Blackman said.
During his speech, Mr Blackman premiered Good Sammy’s most recent corporate video featuring employees Sam, Kayla and Karen. The trio share their stories of how achieving and maintaining employment with Good Sammy has changed their lives, and their loved ones also shine a light on the life changing impact their employment has had. You can watch the video at the bottom of this article.
City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall said the 2022 Camco Engineering Mayor’s Charity Gala Dinner was a resoundingly successful event and one he was thrilled to have been part of.
I am so proud of this event and Canning Council for making the decision to embrace an innovative new approach to the traditional civic dinner. It has resulted in an astonishing financial outcome for Good Sammy, enabling it to establish four important new programs to support people with disability,” Mayor Hall said.
So many Canning businesses large and small, from Welshpool to Canning Vale, stepped forward to donate auction items – we couldn’t have had this fundraising success without them - I am incredibly grateful for their support.
Good Sammy has a significant presence within the City of Canning. In addition to our Op Shops in Willetton and Cannington, our administration and recycling centre has been located in the City of Canning suburb of Canning Vale for many years.
If you’d like to make a financial contribution to Good Sammy, please click here.
READ MORE
City of Canning media release: Over $72,000 raised for Good Sammy at the Camco Engineering Mayor’s Charity Gala Dinner
