Gingerbread House Challenge raises $11,000 for Sick Kids

22nd February 2012

Gingerbread House Challenge raises $11,000 for Sick Kids

The Prime Hotels Gingerbread House Challenge 2011 has raised an impressive $11,000 for sick kids at Wellington Children’s Hospital.

The Challenge, in which participants enter photos of their decorated gingerbread houses to compete for prizes, received more entries than the previous years; a great sign of support for the charity considering the challenges facing the charity dollar in 2011. With last year and this year combined – this unique Christmas fundraiser has raised $21,000 selling Gingerbread Houses.

“There have been more entries on line this year with amazing stories of families coming together and highlighting their support of the hospital charity” said Antoinette Muollo-Aharoni, who created the competition with her sister Justine Muollo. “It’s been a real pleasure to be part of this great fundraising cause for The Children’s Hospital.”

The funds raised will fund much needed medical equipment for the children’s hospital that falls outside of government funding.

Mr Bill Day, Chair of Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation, the official charity for Wellington Children’s Hospital said “This is a fantastic result. We are very grateful to Antoinette and Justine and their team at Prime Hotels Group and The Protein Company for putting this competition together. The competition received fantastic support from Piri Weepu, Cory Jane, Moore Wilson, Classic Hits, 2e Design and Fisher Print, and it could not have happened without their help.”

“It is a great start 2012, which marks the 100th anniversary of Wellington Children’s Hospital this year” said Mr Day.

Cory Jane, who judged the Best Memories of Kiwiana category, said “The top three houses represented New Zealand icons very well and now my kids want to start baking! Well done to everyone who entered.”

The winners of each category were:

• Best Memories of Kiwiana, judged by All Black Cory Jane. Winner: ‘Te Marae’ by Cheryl, Robert, Sarah, Rachel and Jacoba Visser.
• Best Christmas House, judged by Julie Moore and Lyndal of Moore Wilson. Winner: ‘Heart and Lung Unit Winter Wonder Welly House’ by Pamela Ruth Lat.
• Best Wellywood House, judged by hospital staff. Winner: ‘WellywoodTastic’ by Sheree, Natalya, Leon and Sascha Williams.
• From the winners of these three categories, an overall winner was chosen - the ‘Heart and Lung Unit Winter Wonder Welly House’ by Pamela Ruth Lat.

ENDS