Dinner to help those in need

Enjoying last year's Casey Cardinia Foundation Charity Dinner are, from left, Matt Van Dam, Elly Van Dam, Ash Henry, Bess Henry, Dan O'Loughlin and Amy O'Loughlin. 160334_12

Here’s the chance to have a great night out and help the community at the same time at Casey Cardinia Foundation’s Annual Charity Dinner at the Cardinia Cultural Centre on Friday 13 October.
It is one of the local events of the year and in 2017 has an even greater local flavour.
As well as being able to sample the best local produce, guests will be entertained by the predominantly local 13-piece band Big and Horny.
And the night will all come together with the polish provided by MC Dave Whalen, who hails from Tooradin.
“You can be entertained by a local band, enjoy the best of local produce and help local charities at the same time,” Casey Cardinia Foundation executive officer Therese Howell said.
The charity dinner is the foundation’s major fundraiser with all money raised being ploughed back into the local community.
Ms Howell said the foundation last year received grant applications from local groups to the tune of $240,000 which far exceeded its grant capacity.
She said that demonstrated there was a real need for help in the Casey Cardinia region.
“We need help more than ever, we simply can’t meet that need,” she said.
“We have more great projects out there than we have money to support them.”
Ms Howell said that over the past decade and a bit the foundation had donated in the vicinity of $400,000 to local groups and projects.
Last year it was able to help food relief projects like 4Cs and the Cranbourne Food Truck, disability access programs through Outlook and Livvi’s Place and a range of projects like mental health camps and camps for abused children.
“We have been able to make a real difference but there are some very worthwhile projects out there that can’t get funding at present, so it would be great to increase our capacity,” Ms Howell said.
“People can come along to our charity dinner and learn about the grants we announce, learn a bit about the foundation, have a great night and contribute to the community at the same time.
Tickets to the charity dinner are $135 per person or $1350 for a table of 10.
They can be bought online through Trybooking at www.trybooking.com/271401.
Corporate booking inquiries can be made through admin@caseycardiniafoundation.org or by phoning 0439 905 533.