More than $75,000 was raised for Kiwi kids in need at Variety – the Children’s Charity’s sixth annual black-tie fundraiser, SKYCITY Variety of Chefs .
With close to 300 guests in attendance, the August 31 night, was an all-round success, says Variety’s chief executive officer, Lorraine Taylor.
“The menu, created by our fantastic trio of chefs, Nic Watt of MASU, Monique Fiso of Hiakai and Hayden McMillan of Etta in Melbourne, who all volunteered their time to bring the evening to life, was innovative and a taste sensation – and that’s just one of the highlights,” she says.
“With both a silent and live auction having taken place, we were so thrilled to see everyone get right behind our cause, which is to give disadvantaged Kiwi kids the childhood they deserve, and dig deep to assist our work.”
Fittingly, the theme for the evening was centred around all things Kiwi, which saw guests enjoy the likes of manuka smoked eel, kina panna cotta, tamari roasted pumpkin, shepherd’s pie and a kumara cake, all with a fine-dining twist, to name a few.
Hot ticket auction items included the chance to take home a Ford Mustang for a week, a 2018 Steinlager Series signed All Blacks jersey, the chance to head out in a police incident car for the night and to see how our police dogs are put to the test to challenge their skills and to have Nic Watt and his executive chefs put on a home-cooked dinner for 10.
Guests were also treated to a performance by current Variety Gold Heart Scholar Verity Howells and a keynote presentation by former Variety Gold Heart Scholar and New Zealand Paralympian Mary Fisher.
Taylor extends a very big thank you to the major sponsors of the evening, SKYCITY and Ford, as well as to Nic Watt for his ongoing support of the event.
SKYCITY Group general manager human resources, Claire Walker is proud of the long-standing partnership they have with Variety.
“SKYCITY has been supporting Variety – the Children’s Charity since 2005, helping raise much needed funds and awareness for this hugely important charity. SKYCITY Variety of Chefs is a significant event in our calendar each year and we are so pleased this event will make a difference for Kiwi Kids” says Walker.
Taylor also extends her thanks to the many businesses who generously donated items for the live and silent auctions, as well as to all of our beverage partners, MC’s Mike McRoberts and Melissa Davies and supporting chefs Monique Fiso and Hayden McMillan.
