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In 2015 the CEF achieved great success from its fundraising initiatives. The focus of the 2015 events program was on the inaugural fundraising Gala Dinner, the major fundraising event for the CEF in 2015. All stakeholders including CEF sponsors and donors, Sydney Catholic Schools staff, both office based and in Sydney Catholic school communities, as well as suppliers were greatly supportive of the foundation’s cause. The foundation achieved a significant result from fundraising initiatives in 2015, raising over $61,000 for the bursary fund thanks to our community of generous supporters.

• Staff Big Day Out Raffle/Chocolate Bags
  27 February
  Raffle tickets were available for $5 each or 3 for $10. Prizes included a Gold Class Cinemas gift voucher, a BridgeClimb gift voucher and premium liquor. Chocolate bags were also sold on the staff development day for $3 each. Both initiatives were a great success thanks to the generous support of staff.

• NRL Footy Tipping Competition
  March to October
  Sydney Catholic Schools office based staff were invited to participate in the annual NRL footy tipping competition. $10 from each entry was donated to the foundation bursary fund.

• ANZAC Biscuits
  24 April
  ANZAC biscuits handmade by in-house chef Tim Ryan were available to purchase for Sydney Catholic Schools office based staff for $5 a bag, a total of 700 biscuits and 100 bags were sold.

• Soup Kitchen – National Refugee Week
  18 June
  The annual soup kitchen was held during National Refugee Week to promote awareness of the Refugee Bursary. Sydney Catholic Schools office based staff enjoyed delicious handmade soup and bread for $5. The fundraiser was a wonderful success with all three soup options selling out!

• Inaugural Gala Dinner
  14 October
  The inaugural Gala event for the foundation, the fundraising Gala Dinner was held at the Albert Palais function centre in Leichhardt. Two hundred guests attended including Catholic Education Foundation sponsors as well as corporate supporters, many of whom have a relationship with Sydney Catholic Schools.

Albert Palais Leichhardt

Live Auction fundraising items

Dr Dan White, Executive Director Sydney Catholic Schools and Mark Vincent

Dr Dan White, Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools gave an inspiring speech and the event showcased an impressive lineup of entertainment, comprising both students and professionals. Mark Vincent, an ex-student of Sydney Catholic Schools and Australia’s number one tenor was the headline act of the evening. The night also showcased exceptional talent by students. David Zheng, a Year 8 student at Casimir Catholic College Marrickville played the violin as guests entered the ballroom and CaSPA students from the Showcase Ensemble Dance group performed with poise and grace. Guests also enjoyed the variety of popular music from Australia’s favourite party band, Jelly Bean Jam who sang and danced the night out!

Sponsors were acknowledged via a trophy presentation and individual photos with Dr Dan White.

The fundraising efforts on the night were an immense success; one thousand raffle tickets were sold on the evening raising $10,000! Many generous donations were also received in lieu of attendance. The event was a wonderful success, highly entertaining for guests and raised an exceptional amount of funds for the bursary fund. The Catholic Education Foundation would like to sincerely thank all those who supported the inaugural event and attended the evening.

The Catholic Education Foundation would also like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the following organisations for their generous support by providing monetary donations in lieu of attendance or for providing prizes for the evening’s fundraising.

• Bow Goold Architects Pty Ltd
• Clare Communications Co Pty Ltd
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia
• Cowan & Lewis Pty Ltd
• Delany Foundation Limited
• DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club
• Global Quality Foods Pty Ltd
• Kellys Office Furniture
• MAC1
• Marist College, Kogarah
• McCormack Employment Services
• Munns Sly Moore Architects Pty Ltd
• Sportspro
• Stanton Dahl Architects
• Star Of The Sea Luxury Apartments Terrigal
• Sydney Roosters

• Melbourne Cup Luncheon
  3 November
  Sydney Catholic Schools central office staff were invited to attend the office based Melbourne Cup luncheon. Staff enjoyed a delicious handmade lunch made by in-house chef Tim Ryan and drinks for $15. All proceeds were donated to the bursary fund.

• CEF Annual Appeal Day – school fundraiser
  Week commencing 16 November
  The inaugural Catholic Education Foundation Annual Appeal Day school fundraiser. Primary and Secondary school students were invited to participate in a mufti day to help raise money for families in need so their children can receive a foundation bursary. Students wore their favourite blue clothes for a gold coin donation.

The Catholic Education Foundation would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the following school communities who participated, thank you so much for your generous support. Congratulations on raising a total of over $15,000 for the CEF Bursary Fund!

• All Hallows Catholic Primary School Five Dock
• All Saints Catholic Senior College Casula
• Aquinas Catholic College Menai
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School Clifton Gardens
• Christ the King Catholic School Bass Hill
• De La Salle Catholic College Caringbah
• De La Salle College Ashfield
• Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Woollahra
• Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School North Ryde
• La Salle Catholic College Bankstown
• Marist College Eastwood
• Mater Dei Catholic Primary School Blakehurst
• Mount St Joseph Milperra
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Caringbah
• Our Lady of The Annunciation Catholic Primary School Pagewood
• Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic Primary School Fairfield
• Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School Miranda
• St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Cronulla
• St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School Malabar
• St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School Botany
• St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School Annandale
• St Catherine Laboure Catholic Primary School Gymea
• St Fiacre’s Catholic Primary School Leichhardt
• St Francis De Sales’ Catholic Primary School Woolooware
• St Gabriel’s Catholic School Bexley
• St Jerome’s Catholic Primary School Punchbowl
• St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Como
• St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Concord
• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Belfield
• St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Kogarah
• St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School Regents Park
• St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School South Hurstville

• Christmas Raffle
  15 December
  The annual CEF Christmas raffle was held for Sydney Catholic Schools office based staff. All proceeds from raffle tickets sold were donated to the foundation bursary fund. Thank you to those staff who generously supported this fundraising initiative.

• Book Fair
  18 December
  A new fundraiser trialled in 2015. Staff were invited to donate books, CDs and DVDs to the book fair held at the central office and the items were available for staff to purchase second hand. The event exceeded expectations and was a wonderful success thanks to the generosity and support of staff. Thank you to those staff who generously supported this fundraising initiative.

• Christmas Puddings
  Handmade Christmas puddings made by in-house chef Tim Ryan were available for staff to purchase with all proceeds raised donated to the foundation bursary fund. The annual fundraiser is immensely popular with staff, many of whom purchase multiple puddings!

• School Fundraising Initiatives
  Throughout 2015 selected schools held their own fundraising initiatives for the CEF, raising a total of over $3,000. Thank you to the following two schools for their generous support with fundraising:
  • Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Caringbah
  • Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic Primary School Kensington

In 2014 the Catholic Education Foundation achieved immense success from its fundraising initiatives. Foundation sponsors and donors as well as Sydney Catholic Schools staff and business partners all showed wonderful support for the cause, achieving a strong fundraising result for the foundation bursary fund.

• Aussie Barbeque  
  11 February 
  Barbeque lunch for staff held at the Sydney Catholic Schools central office. Funds raised were donated to the foundation bursary fund.

• Staff Big Day Out Raffle
  28 February 
  Raffle for Sydney Catholic Schools office staff, prizes included hampers and liquor. Funds raised were donated to the foundation bursary fund.

• Roger Woodward Dinner & Concert
   10 June
  The Catholic Education Foundation held a dinner and concert featuring world renowned pianist Roger Woodward and highly talented students from Catholic Schools Performing Arts Sydney (CASPA) to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Bursary category. Held in the O’Grady Centre Auditorium of the Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College in Burwood, the event hosted 200 guests, including Foundation sponsors and business partners of Sydney Catholic Schools. The event was a wonderful success and positive feedback was abundant from those who attended, with the evening enjoyed by all.

• Soup Kitchen – National Refugee Week
   19 June
  Talented in house chef Tim Ryan prepared a variety of soups for Sydney Catholic Schools office staff in support of the Refugee Bursary category during National Refugee Week. The annual fundraiser is one of the most popular amongst staff.

• Mary Mackillop Feast Day
   8 August
  Schools supported the foundation via holding their own fundraising activity for a gold coin donation. Some of the activities held included a hot chocolate day, scarf and beanie day and mufti day. Participating schools raised a total of over $9,000 for the bursary fund, a fantastic effort! Sincerest thank you to the following schools for their support:

• Aquinas Catholic College Menai
• Christ the King Catholic School Bass Hill
• Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton
• De La Salle Catholic College Caringbah
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Caringbah
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Kingsgrove
• Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic Primary School Fairfield
• Our Lady of The Sacred Heart College Kensington
• St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School Annandale
• St Declan’s Catholic Primary School Penshurst
• St John Vianney Catholic Primary School Greenacre
• St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Belmore
• Villa Maria Catholic Primary School Hunters Hill

• Have You Got Talent? Competition
   9 September
  Sydney Catholic Schools and Catholic Schools Performing Arts Sydney (CASPA) held the grand final of the Have You Got Talent? competition at the O’Grady Centre Auditorium of the Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College in Burwood. The evening showcased talented students from all regions of Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic schools who competed in the talent quest.

Congratulations to all students who participated in the various stages of the competition. Special congratulations to the three winners; David Zheng Yr 7 student at Casimir Catholic College, Marrickville (Judges Choice Award), Isabelle Hanly Yr 12 student at De La Salle Catholic College, Cronulla (Judges Choice Award), and Michael Benson Yr 12 student at Clancy Catholic College, West Hoxton (People’s Choice Award).

The event helped to raise awareness of the Catholic Education Foundation with proceeds from the sale of each ticket donated to the foundation bursary fund. Thank you to the following school communities who together helped to raise over $7,000!

• Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton
• Good Samaritan Catholic College Hinchinbrook
• Holy Family Catholic Primary School Menai
• John The Baptist Catholic Primary School Bonnyrigg Heights
• Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Caringbah
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Kingsgrove
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Earlwood
• Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School Bonnyrigg Mt Pritchard
• Our Lady of The Annunciation Catholic Primary School Pagewood
• Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School Miranda
• St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School Clovelly
• St Catherine Laboure Catholic Primary School Gymea
• St Francis of Assisi Regional Catholic Primary School Paddington
• St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Primary School Arncliffe
• St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School Lidcombe
• St John Bosco Catholic Primary School Engadine
• St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Riverwood
• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Lane Cove
• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Meadowbank
• St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School South Hurstville
• Trinity Catholic College Auburn

“It was a fantastic showcase of the talent of young people in our schools, it was one of those events that you were hoping wouldn’t come to an end.”

– CaSPA Online

• NRL Grand Final Footy BBQ / Footy Tipping Competition
   3 October
  Barbeque lunch held at the Sydney Catholic Schools office for staff. $10 from each entry into the footy tipping competition was donated to the foundation bursary fund.

• Pie, Pea & Mash Lunch
   22 October
  Delicious handmade pies and pea mash lunch held at the Sydney Catholic Schools office for staff. The pies were a sell out with all proceeds donated to the bursary fund.

• Melbourne Cup Luncheon
   4 November
  Sydney Catholic Schools office hosted a buffet lunch for staff to celebrate the race that stops the nation! Kevin Greene was a wonderful MC who ensured staff enjoyed the afternoon. Staff members were asked to wear their favourite hat, fascinator or tie with a prize awarded for the best in each category. A Melbourne Cup trivia competition was also held, staff from the two winning tables received a free morning tea or lunch at the hospitality centre. Positive feedback was received, with much commentary that the event was very enjoyable and better every year!

• Christmas Raffle
  Annual raffle for Sydney Catholic Schools office staff was drawn in December. All monies raised from raffle tickets sold was donated to the foundation bursary fund. Thank you to staff who supported the fundraiser.

• Christmas Puddings
  Handmade by talented in house chef Tim Ryan, the puddings are available in three sizes for Sydney Catholic Schools staff to purchase each Christmas with all proceeds donated to the bursary fund.

• Sponsors Christmas drinks
   20 November
  To acknowledge and thank our generous foundation sponsors for their support in 2014, Christmas drinks and canapes were provided on the evening at the Sydney Catholic Schools office.

Talented singer Elizabeth Daher, Yr 12 student at St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove and CaSPA member and CaSPA music advisor, James Long performed a range of Christmas tunes for guests on arrival. Dr Dan White, Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools gave a heartfelt speech on the role and importance of the Catholic Education Foundation and sponsor’s valuable contribution to achieving the foundation’s mission.

The CEF would like to acknowledge Maria Russo, Director and the team from Dancefever Multisport, sponsor of the CEF who generously prepared and donated eight Christmas hampers. The hampers were donated to St Therese Catholic Primary School Sadleir-Miller where there is a significant need to support many families in the local community.

• School Fundraising Activities
  Throughout the year Primary and Secondary schools held their own fundraising initiatives and showed wonderful support for the foundation, raising a total of over $15,700. Sincerest thank you and appreciation to the following schools for their generous support.

• All Hallows Catholic Primary School Five Dock
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School Clifton Gardens
• Casimir Catholic College Marrickville
• Clancy Catholic College West Hoxton
• Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School North Ryde
• Marcellin College Randwick
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Kingsgrove
• Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College Burwood
• St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Cronulla
• St Ambrose Catholic Primary School Concord West
• St Catherine Laboure Catholic Primary School Gymea
• St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School Holsworthy
• St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School Panania
• St Clare’s College Waverley
• St Gabriel’s Catholic School Bexley
• St John Bosco Catholic Primary School Engadine
• St John Vianney Catholic Primary School Greenacre
• St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Como
• St Joseph the Worker Catholic Primary School Auburn South
• St Mary’s Cathedral College Sydney
• St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Concord
• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Belfield
• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Stanmore
• St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Summer Hill
• St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Sutherland
• St Patrick’s College Sutherland
• St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School South Hurstville
• St Thomas More’s Catholic School Brighton-Le-Sands