ANZ Community Ball raffle winner drives away with new car
The recent ANZ Community Ball was a night to remember, especially for the car raffle winner, as all money raised will help local charities across South Australia.
Sarah Watson gets the keys to the brand new Toyota she won in the ANZ Community Ball raffle. Photo: Supplied.
Sarah Watson, the winner of a new Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid, said she is pleased to be able to contribute to great causes that resonate with her.
“The proceeds were going to really good charities within South Australia who I’m really supportive of,” she said.
“Every little bit of money helps with what they need to do for research or for providing extra services.”
Watson understands the financial hardships for charities as she used to work at SAHMRI and volunteered at the Hutt Street Centre.
“Money is getting harder and harder to get in research and not-for-profit organisations, so as much as I can support them, I will,” she said.
Watson said she didn’t attend the ball but got a text message that Saturday night saying she had won the car.
“I didn’t believe I won it until I got a phone call from Peter Kittle saying when do you want to collect your car?” Watson said.
Watson was astonished with the timing of it all, saying she nearly blew up her old car a week before and that “it was in the garage getting fixed so the timing could be any better”.
The Toyota, valued at $35,000, was donated by the CEO of Peter Kittle Toyota, Andrew Kittle.
This is the company’s third year they have been involved in the ANZ Community Ball to help support local charities.
“We have always been community-minded,” the General Manager of Peter Kittle Motor Company, Steve Wier said.
Wier said it means a lot to Andrew Kittle and the Kittle Motor Company to help others.
ANZ Community Ball Chair Brendan Rinaldi said this year more than ever the event relied on the car raffle and live auctions to help reach its fundraising goals and make up for the limited capacity numbers due to COVID restrictions.
Both attendees and non-attendees were able to purchase the $100 tickets to boost the amount of money raised.
The Operation Flinders Foundation was the main charity at this year’s event, raising money to support its programs for vulnerable young people at risk aged between 13 and 18.
Operation Flinders CEO David Wark said being the host charity will help the foundation by creating more opportunities for the young people they strive to assist across South Australia.
“The funds raised from the event will go directly towards transforming the lives of young people,” he said.
The event has become a premier charity event in South Australia with more than $910,000 raised for local charities over the last three years thanks to support from the community.
