There was glitz and glamour on Saturday night at the PCYC Bundaberg Charity Ball fundraiser for youth in the Bundaberg Region.
Bundaberg Police Sergeant John Kendall said the charity ball had played a vital part in raising money for PCYC youth services over the last decade, and the event was always well attended with about 180 community members enjoying the evening.
“We have always had a lot of support from local businesses and we are normally able to raise over $10,000 on the evening for local youth services,” Sergeant Kendall said.
“Because we are not funded by any government organisation the money we raise – 100 per cent – goes back into helping all our local kids, we run so many programs with our youth development, crime prevention and welfare programs so it’s great to hold an event like this.”
Charity Ball helps keep fees affordable
PCYC chairman Richard Williams said there were about 1500 young PCYC members, and raising the funds helped keep fees low.
Richard said the PCYC looked after a variety of people, especially children in the community.
“There are a lot of families that can’t afford sports for their children, so we keep our rates low and these families may come to us and choose karate as it’s cheaper,” he said.
“We keep our fees low so everyone in the community can be involved and we are able to do this because of events like this make it possible.”
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey said the PCYC Charity Ball was always a fantastic event that helped an organisation which encouraged youth in the community be part of a team and possibly even take up sport they otherwise wouldn’t have.
“Police Youth Clubs are the largest youth organisation in Queensland, established in the 1940s, and we are certainly very thankful to have an important part of the community here helping people and also providing some great sport and recreation activities as well,” he said.
Mayor Dempsey said as a teenager he attended the Police and Community Youth Club and participated in golden glove events.
“I certainly enjoyed it and I learnt a lot of lessons; it’s one place where you earn a lot of respect as well,” Mayor Dempsey said.
PCYC Bundaberg is housed at the Bundaberg Multiplex and offers a range of youth services, including three indoor courts catering for basketball, volleyball, netball, badminton and futsal, along with a state-of-the-art gymnastics centre that offers recreational and competitive gymnastics.
As well as the annual PCYC Charity Ball, the PCYC Bundaberg runs a variety of other fundraising activities including the monthly community markets and the annual wedding expo.
- Bundaberg Police looking for recruits
