IT was a night that we will never forget - and today we are celebrating a double whammy of cash windfalls for not one but two of our community's most important causes.
By JAMES MARSTON
james.marston@eveningstar.co.uk
IT was a night that we will never forget - and today we are celebrating a double whammy of cash windfalls for not one but two of our community's most important causes.
The Evening Star is delighted to announce that last night's glittering Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball raised a whopping £27,320 for chosen charity Disability Care Enterprise (DCE) - an organisation that provides specialist equipment for disabled people.
In a surprise move that delighted the 350 guests, Press Ball sponsors Call Connection pledged a magnificent £10,000 towards our campaign inspired by the Ipswich killings.
Graeme Kalbraier, managing director of the St Nicholas Street-based firm announced the cash would go towards the Star's Somebody's Daughter campaign to build a safehouse to help people trapped in the grip of drugs.
The money comes from a £5,000 business entrepreneurship award which Call Connection won from the London-based Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, and Mr Kalbaier added: “We matched this money and tonight I am able to announce we can donate £10,000 towards the Somebody Daughter's campaign.
“At the end of last year Ipswich and Suffolk was terribly shaken when five young women were snatched, killed and dumped in locations around the town. These awful events prompted our community to pull together closer than ever. I would like to pledge this money to the memory of those killed and helping those trapped by drug addiction.”
Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover said: “This is a magnificent night for DCE and our campaign. I am delighted to be able to accept this fabulous donation from Call Connection on behalf of our Somebody's Daughter campaign.
“As a man was arrested and charged, The Evening Star launched Somebody's Daughter and, with the help of Ipswich Borough Council, we have decided to help girls forced on to the streets to pay for their next fix. Somebody's Daughter is, I am delighted to report, going from strength to strength and this money will help us make a huge difference.”
Have you benefited from DCE? Do you support Somebody's Daughter? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
See Tuesday's Evening Star for more pictures.
WHEN added to the £257,000 total raised by previous balls, last night's efforts mean the event has now raised a figure approaching £300,000 for DCE since the first Press Ball back in 1997.
With its stunning Ice Ball theme, entertainment by superstar Tony Hadley, the raffles and the auction, the sheer style and glamour of the evening persuaded guests from across the county to dig deep for the charity.
Carolyne Morey, DCE project director said: “Tonight has been an outstanding success. This is an amazing result for DCE and fantastic news for the disabled people we help.
“Every penny we raise we can spend and thanks to the overwhelming generosity of press ball guests DCE will be able to help more people than ever this year.”
Money raised by the Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball so far:
1997-£3,000
1998-£6,000
1999-£21,000
2000-£35,000
2001-£33,000
2002-£40,000
2003-£26,000
2004-£31,000
2005-£22,000
2006-£40,000
2007 -£ 37,000
Total so far - £294,000
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