When Ben Shewry throws a party, you cancel all your plans and show up! Ben, chef/owner of the all-conquering Attica restaurant, has been an amazing supporter of Helping Hoops in 2014 through his volunteer work at our Helping Hoops Richmond program and his fundraising for the 24 Hour Charity Shootout. Now, add to this list the WAW Gathering.
WAW (standing for What a Wonderful World) saw 30 of the world’s best chefs come together for a food festival held on the Rippon Lea Estate on Sunday, October 5. Chefs were stationed around the expanses of the beautiful estate, with guests rotating through these stations and enjoying all the amazing food on offer on a perfect spring day.
Helping Hoops was invited to take part by erecting a basketball hoop and playing some fun games with guests as they passed through our station. This was not only a chance to meet some of the people that have supported Ben in his fundraising efforts for Helping Hoops, but also show just who we are and what we bring to disadvantaged communities around Melbourne.
Coaches Mike, Omar and Renee, and our very own basketball freestyler Fume, thoroughly enjoyed getting out of the gymnasium and teaching the game of basketball in a truly unique setting. Coach Mike even found a way to incorporate holding a wine glass into the basketball games we played with guests.
Ben Shewry says of the event:
“Helping Hoops is a charity with a cause close to my heart and it was wonderful to be able to support them through our WAW gives lunch. The Helping Hoops team were on hand on the day educating people on the work they do and connecting them to their story of teaching underprivileged children life skills. Throughout the day guests were getting lessons shooting basketballs sometimes with a glass of wine in one hand! Thanks to the generosity to all those who attended and those friends who cooked and donated goods we’ve been able to raise $25,000 which will go directly to the programs that Helping Hoops run.”
We would like to send a heartfelt thank you out to Ben, Sharlee, all the chefs and volunteers, and guests who attended the WAW Gathering. The money raised will help greatly with the work of Helping Hoops, and we are lucky to have such giving people in our corner!
More information on the WAW Gathering can be found on their website at wawgathering.com.au.
Photos by Colin Page (colinpage.com)
