A Dreamy Night of Generosity
On the evening of Saturday, 13 September, hundreds of glamorously attired philanthropists converged on Eden Park’s stately Grand Hall for a magnificent night of wining and fine dining, music and dance, bidding and mingling — and making a massive difference to the lives of children and young people with Down syndrome.
When the doors to UpsideDowns’ Share the Dream Gala opened at 6:30pm, guests were treated to a gorgeous sight. Not only was the Grand Hall beautifully decorated and bathed in electrifying light, but through the windows looking out over the hallowed ground of Eden Park, huge images of the kids supported by UpsideDowns were projected on the park’s massive digital displays. Eden Park went all out to make sure this night would be one to remember.
Upon entry, guests filed past rows of silent auction items donated by generous supporters from around the country. Up for grabs were dozens of fantastic prizes, including rare sporting collectables and priceless experiences, fashion and styling gems, epicurean delights and luxury personal care treats. After perusing the items, guests could then have their photo taken by Nigel King of White Door Photography. He took all the fabulous photos you see here.
The main event kicked off with legendary entertainer Phil Madsen and his band performing a stirring number, the singer roaming through the hall with his guitar in hand. He was followed by the night’s excellent MC, Wendy Meyer, who charmed the crowd while guiding us through the event schedule.
Absolutely bringing down the house, 11-year-old Joshua Venables took to the stage to deliver a speech about his communication journey to date. Funny, heartfelt, and confident, Joshua is a perfect example of the power of speech and language therapy for young people living with Down syndrome. We couldn’t be prouder to be supporting him.
A hard act to follow, but past chairperson and the architect of Share the Dream, Mel Watson, was up for the job. She delivered a powerful speech honouring her friend Hannah Blow, one of UpsideDowns’ founders, who passed away earlier this year.
With guests fed, watered, and inspired, it was time to kick of the excitement of the live auction. Led by master auctioneer Sam Steele — who shared his own heartfelt story of growing up with a speech impediment — the crowd was soon hoisting their auction paddles in a frenzy of bids.
There were some amazing items on the block from generous supporters near and far: VIP seats at music and sporting events, relaxing holidays and adventurous getaways, jaw-dropping jewellery and fine tailoring. One item which garnered some media coverage was a historic All Blacks jersey signed by the squad and donated by the Barrett family. We were lucky enough to have Zara Barrett at the event to present this priceless piece of memorabilia. There was no shortage of treasure to be had and the bidding was fierce.
With business out of the way it was time for pleasure. Decadent dessert gave way to a pulsing dancefloor as Phil and his band expertly belted out a crowd-pleasing medley of requests. The evening wrapped up just before the bells tolled midnight, an impeccably stylish audience spilling out of Eden Park’s doors, spirits high from an unforgettable night and the knowledge they had made a real difference:
Through our guests’ generous support and enthusiasm, the Share the Dream Gala raised more than $85,000 — a phenomenal result which will have a profound impact on the families in our community supported by UpsideDonws.
If you weren’t able to make the gala, we missed you! But you can still make a difference. Donate to UpsideDowns today to help give the gift of speech to Kiwi kids with Down syndrome.
A huge thank you to everyone who made Share the Dream such a success. From our guests to our sponsors, our members to our volunteers — we couldn’t ask for a more passionate community backing us up as we support Aotearoa’s families living with Down syndrome.
