About the Grand Finale Fundraiser

Grand Finale is a one-day public charitable fundraiser, which traditionally takes place on a Sunday in January. Our charitable collection is held internationally, and it is run by the local hubs of activity – Collection Centres.

1700 Collection Centres organise the work of 120 000 volunteers. Our charitable Orchestra „plays” across the World: in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, across Europe and Russia, in Africa, the Americas, on board of Polish ships, and even at the North Pole research station! Since 1993, Grand Finale fundraiser is held in aid of a specific medical objective. Our main goal is to support Polish children’s hospitals and purchase modern medical equipment.

Benefactors can support the effort by putting money in the Collection Boxes, making online and mobile transfers as well as taking part in charitable auctions.

The Grand Finale is a vibrant, joyous occasion - much more than a fundraiser. There are entertaining fundraising events, such as concerts, fairs, performances and sporting and creative activities for kids and grown-ups held in aid of our objective. Grand Finale inspires people to volunteer and becomes an opportunity to engage in social activism. It is a way for communities to bond and for people to take up action. Each Grand Finale fundraiser is a grassroots initiative, organised by local activists and relying on local resources. Even though each Grand Finale is different, there are some standard features of each event, for instance, charitable auctions and raffles. One of the highlights of the day is a firework display or its alternative - at 8 PM communities come together to admire the different light shows.

30th Grand Finale Fundraiser

- SEE THE LIGHT! THE OBJECTIVE: CHILDREN’S OPHTHALMOLOGY See the light - this is the very telling motto of our winter fundraising initiative. We will raise money to buy equipment for children’s ophthalmology. In 2022 we will purchase medical devices to save children’s eyesight! The annual fundraiser, which is often called Poland’s most prominent public fundraiser, will take place on January 30th, 2022, to mark the 30th anniversary of our initiative.

The upcoming fundraiser aims to buy medical devices for ophthalmology -a branch of medicine treating diseases and conditions of the eye. It is worth noting that the 30th Grand Finale fundraiser will mark the first time we try to tackle the purchase of equipment that will be used to save children’s eyesight. However, we have extensive experience when it comes to treating and preventing retinopathy of prematurity, having established a national programme that helped to run tests of the sight of nearly 225 thousand preemies and save the eyesight of 10 600 children. In addition, we equipped 21specialized surgery centres with laser surgery devices, which allow doctors to perform operations saving the sight of tiny new-born babies, ensuring that they can learn, develop, and discover the world in full colour.

Volunteers

Volunteers are the driving force of our initiative. A group of 120 000 people of all ages, creeds, and world-views contribute their time, energy and enthusiasm to create the most vibrant and exciting fundraiser in the country! Everyone is welcome to volunteer, and we are happy to see so many volunteers returning to „play” with us. What is more, our volunteers often return with their family members and friends who also join our initiative. Our oldest volunteer was well over ninety years old, while the youngest was just a few months old. Everyone can contribute as much time and effort as they can. You can become one of the core members of the Crew at the Collection Centre and oversee the entire organisation of the local event, or become a part of the team tasked with raising funds on the day of the Grand Finale. Volunteering with us is easy and fun – everyone is welcome. The best way to learn more about volunteering is getting in touch with your local Collection Centre because each Grand Finale fundraiser is different.

On the day of the Grand Finale

Each Grand Finale volunteer should have their ID card, Collection Box and an ample supply of heart stickers. Volunteers can fundraise in public places and during different fundraising events. In exchange for donations, people receive stickers in the shape of our logo. Everyone in Poland knows our heart-shaped symbol!