Community Service & Support: Highway Hotel

2022 AHA HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARDS WINNER

Pub people know Martin Palmer’s generosity and were not surprised when The Highway won the AHA|SA’s Community Service & Support Award 2022.

The Highway raised approximately $150,000 for charity in just over 12 months. Beneficiaries included Laurel Palliative Care, Bone Cancer Research, Pancreatic Cancer, Sammy D Foundation, Charlies Rainbow, Kickstart for Kids and more.

“Marty” is quick to pass the praise to his team, in particular to Christine McAuliffe.

“Pubs have a role in looking after those who need a hand or are not as fortunate as we are,” he said.

“We all agree on the importance pubs play in the community and Christine is very immersed in our local community.

“She is in touch with groups who need help and The Highway has the facilities to do something meaningful in a fundraising sense.”

For Christine, the award is tinged with sadness, as many of the people who were the focus of events have now passed away.

“Sadly, I knew all of the people from the functions last year,” she said.

“I had a personal connection and some of them are no longer here.”

Christine explained that in the case of Charlotte Agostino, “there is no fundraising for that form of bone cancer, so we wanted to raise awareness”.

“All of the proceeds went to the doctor who treated Charlotte, to fund further research.”

As many publicans would know, organising donations is time consuming and has to be a labour of love. Christine, the hotel’s Marketing and Business Development Manager, is well supported by Functions Manager Linh Pham and many passionate staff. Even Christine’s husband Terry generously donated his time to be auctioneer and MC at all fundraisers.

Pubs have a role in looking after those who need a hand or are not as fortunate as we are.

“Over the past 12 months, The Highway has worked tirelessly to support those who have touched their hearts,” the award judges commented.

“The fundraisers were all designed for people that have a direct association with the Highway.

“Every cent of the money raised went directly to the Charity making a big difference in the lives of people they are connected with.”

CHARITIES CLOSE TO OUR HEART

Each of the charities we chose to support were local based charities in South Australia. This was very important to us as we wanted to ensure every cent raised went directly to the charity, and wasn’t used for fees and admin charges. We can confidently say that the $150,000 we raised did make a difference.

GIRLS NIGHT (G)IN

16TH APRIL, 2021

Laurel Hospice – in support of Lucy Cornes who lost her brother Tom tragically to cancer.

$10,000 RAISED

SPARKLING FOR CHARLOTTE

15TH OCTOBER, 2021

Sarcoma Bone Cancer Research – in support of Charlotte Agostino, a Sacred Heart College student who tragically passed away in April 2021.

$22,500 RAISED

HEY CANCER, YOU CHOSE THE WRONG GIRL

25TH NOVEMBER, 2021

Pankind – Pancreatic Cancer – in support of Belinda Price who was diagnosed with cancer in 2021.

$43,000 RAISED

FROCK UP FRIDAY

25TH MARCH, 2022

Shazzy’s Sunflower Cancer Research – in support of Sharon Richardson who tragically passed away in March 2022.

$58,000 RAISED

SCHNITTY FOR SAM

4TH MAY, 2022

$5 From each schnitzel sold was donated to the Sammy D foundation.

$380 RAISED

LET’S DO IT FOR THE KIDS

7TH MAY, 2022

Charlie’s Rainbow funding Paediatric AML Research – in support of Charlie Stevens who tragically passed away in January 2021.

$16,500 RAISED

The plan for each event was very similar and proved to be a very successful one!

• The Highway created all artwork assets (social media + posters)

• The Highway created the events on social media and shared to the groups

• Each events ticket price included 4 drink tickets + 5 canapés + DJ entertainment, organised by the Highway

• Money was donated from the ticket price

• The Wine Wall, Silent Auction and Main Auction items were sourced in conjunction with the various groups with the Highway making a significant contribution to each fundraiser

• The Highway took payment for all items sold on the night via eftpos at each event and then forwarded the money to the Charity

In addition to these fundraising evenings, we also supported other charities by way of raising money through complimentary room hire, auctions, raffles, drink subsidies and donations from food sales.

KAREN FITZGERALD FOUNDATION LUNCH

This lunch was started by The HWY to help at-risk children in care. Over the past eight years, the lunch has steadily grown to now 200 guests.

$19,000 RAISED

ZAHRA FOUNDATION LUNCH

29 October 2021

We worked closely with General Manager Gemma Burdon to help ensure this event was a success. We donated corkage and room hire for the event to help raise extra funds and helped set up the silent auction. We also sourced wine for the wine wall and donated a Highway voucher towards the raffles.

65 ROSES BALL

11 September 2021

This event was referred to us by our Mezzanine Wine Rep Nick Kay. Kerry Purchase worked in conjunction with us to make this event spectacular! All of the wines for this event were supplied and we donated free room hire and corkage. There was also a significant discount on our food package to help raise money on the night.

SHOCS FOOTBALL CLUB KERRIN MCEVOY LUNCH

Supported with raffles, auctions, and donations for drinks and food.

$16,000 RAISED

KICKSTART FOR KIDS LUKE HODGE LUNCH

Supported with a raffle for Kickstart for Kids.

$2,000 RAISED

SAMMY D FOUNDATION SCHNITTY FOR SAM

$5 From every schnitzel sold was donated to the Sammy D Foundation.

$380 RAISED

INVOLVEMENT WITH LOCAL GROUPS

• The Hon. Stephen Patterson, Member for Morphett – AGM, Business Breakfast

• Southern Jazz Club – free room hire and set up every Tuesday night for approx. 150 guests

• Support Act – free room hire and set up every 4th Thursday for approx. 150 guests

• St John The Baptist School – free room hire + donations for raffles

CLUB SPONSORSHIPS

Goodwood Saints Football Club, SHOCS Football Club, Sturt Football Club, Adelaide Angels Baseball Club, Glenelg Baseball Club, Goodwood Baseball Club, Colonel Light Gardens Football Club, Glenelg Cricket Club, Camden Athletics Club, Matrics Netball Club, Metro Jets Netball Club, Adelaide Cricket Club, Birkalla Soccer Club.

Our sponsorship consists of a cash component + HWY vouchers to be used for best players.

Inspiration to do what we do comes in all shapes and sizes, and as we have found out this year through the amazing generosity of guests who have attended our fundraisers, the non-profit industry as a whole is very inspiring. There are plenty of people who are making a difference in the lives of many people and the community in which we live and to raise over $150,000 in one year to give back to our immediate community makes us feel extremely honoured and proud.

Tom, Charlotte, Belinda, Sharon and Charlie are five people who have inspired us this year to help make the world a better place and to help find cures for these insidious diseases that take people’s lives. We’ll leave you with a quote that has moved us to continue raising money and to try and make a difference.

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”