By midnight on Sunday the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity collected over 115 million zlotys (over 27 million euro). "115 362 894 zlotys. Thank You! The credit goes to You!" - the GOCC Foundation wrote on Twitter.
On Sunday in Poland and in dozen other countries the 28th Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity was held. The charity's annual fundraiser was run by 1760 centres, which coordinated the work of some 120.000 volunteers. The collected money will be used to "to improve the conditions of operating theatres, intensive care units, and diagnostic imaging departments."
Besides Poland, the GOCC centres were set up also in: England, Ireland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, USA and Australia. In the last one, the charity was collecting money to help fighting fires that have been raging there since October.
There were many interesting attractions among the items listed for auction to support the cause of the charity, for instance: a replica of Olga Tokarczuk's Nobel Prize medal, dinner with Robert Lewandowski, Roksana Węgiel's dress, jacket worn by Bogusław Linda in the movie "Psy" (trans. lit. as Dogs; knows in English as "Pigs"). Also auctioned off were numeorus gifts from ambassadors of China, France, Ireland, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and Palestine.
The 28th GOCC Finale climax was marked with the traditional "Light Up the Sky" event. It was commenced in Gdańsk and then it moved to Bankowy Square in Warsaw. It was a special night in Gdańsk as it was dedicated to Paweł Adamowicz, the city's mayor who had been murdered on the night of the charity's finale last year.
"Our sea journey is drawing to its end. We have sailed on the seas of positive energy, joy, and happiness. As you - our generous donors, plundered your wallets for the booty, we filled the coffers with treasure much more precious than any pearls or jewels. It was the smiles, the realizations that what you have, you are ready to share with less fortunate people. We, yet again, we understood that we are surrounded by goodness and grace," the GOCC wrote on its official website.
The preliminary result of the fundraiser was 115.362.894 zlotys (over 27.000.000 euro).
"We will keep counting, and some of our online fundraisers are still ongoing, so you can donate, share your wealth with those who have less than you - those who need you more than you might even realize," reads the statement by the charity.
The final result of the fundraiser will be announced on March 8th.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity sums up the fundraiser with a heartwarming message: "Remember that you can do more than you thought was ever possible!"
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: tvn24