About The Grocery Charity Ball Trust

Started in 2004, The Grocery Charity Ball Trust has been established to run the premier event on the grocery industry social calendar, and direct the profits to charitable trusts in New Zealand.
The annual event is held with the support of both Foodstuffs and Progressive, as well as the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council.

The Trust is administered by six trustees:

	Ross MacKenzie, Managing Director, Old Fashioned Foods Group, 021 542 206
	Don Graham, FMCG Consultant, 021 453 236
	Scott MacKay, Director, Tosco, 021 636 167
	Rob Davis, Director, Admission, 021 653 357
	Karen Clark, FMCG Consultant, 021 975 672
	Leanne Carroll, National Sales Manager, Cerebos Gregg's, 027 221 2588

 

2008 Ball raises $150,000

Once again the grocery industry dug deep into its pockets at the 5th annual Grocery Charity Ball held in Auckland on Friday 26th September, and raised an amazing $150,000 for 2008 Beneficiaries 0800 What's Up and Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. 

"The money will be split 70:30 between What's Up and Hearing Dogs" says Trust Chairman Ross MacKenzie "What's Up will receive a cheque for $105,000, and Hearing Dogs will get the remainder - $45,000.

This year for the first time, the Food & Grocery Council (FGC) used the occasion of the annual get together of the industry to present Lifetime Achiever Awards to two recipients: Peter Burton and Peter Mitchell. 

In presenting the awards, Chairman of the FGC, Peter McClure made mention of the fact that sadly, Peter Burton had passed away a few weeks ago.  Both 'Peters' had made major contributions to the grocery industry going back over 40 years.

The 650 attendees at this year's ball were kept on their toes throughout the night by television presenter, 'Dancing With The Stars' Judge, and rugby league officionado Alison Leonard.  Alison ensured that the evening was yet again a fabulous gala night out, with the highlight being the entertainment surprise: the international violin trio, the String Divas (see www.thestringdivas.com).