Fun Night for a Good Cause: Kiwi Earthquake Appeal Dinner
A devastating earthquake struck New Zealand’s second largest city Christchurch in February, inflicting huge casualties and destruction of property. Although it’s “shaping up to be New Zealand’s worst-ever natural disaster,” as Sam Pearson of KEA Beijing points out, “it’s sort of dropped out of public view – this has been kind of a crazy year news-wise – and there is still a lot of work to be done. They need as much support as they can get.”
In response, New Zealand’s global network KEA, along with supporters and friends, are hosting a charity fundraising dinner that will directly benefit the families of victims in need. The Kiwi Earthquake Appeal Dinner will take place this Saturday, May 14 at the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel, complete with dinner, drinks, a raffle and auction.
“The Renaissance Hotel’s head chef is a Kiwi,” Sam tells me, “and he’s opened up the venue for free and found some of New Zealand’s finest food and wine sponsors. That way, most of the ticketing money can go towards fundraising.”
“The main push is on the yummy New Zealand food and free-flowing wine,” he continues, noting that four NZ chefs will use fresh NZ produce to create one course each, for a total of four courses. The chefs include Brendon Partridge of Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel; Connie Worker, the NZ Ambassador’s wife; Glen Saussey of Swissotel Beijing; and Nathan Young, formerly with Capital M.
To add further incentive, Sam reveals that Shanghai recently held a charity ball, also in support of the earthquake recovery effort, and “raised over 250,000 New Zealand dollars in just under three hours.”
"This Beijing dinner is a way of stirring up some healthy competition with Shanghai," he declares. "That's kind of been spurring us on."
Well, what are you waiting for? We can't let Shanghai beat us. See details and ticket information below.
Date: Saturday, May 14
Time: 6.30pm
Where: Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel
Cost: Individual tickets RMB 600, table of 10 RMB 6,000
RSVP: Register now at www.keabeijing.com/tickets
Orders of 10 tickets or more can be delivered, but please register before Wednesday, May 11 (KEA Beijing plans to confirm numbers by then).
Tickets are currently for sale at:
1. CBD area - Ketchum Beijing Office, 10/F Tower A Vantone Center, 6A Chaowai Avenue. Telephone 5907 0055.
2. Chaoyang- VnC Office - Suite 2201, Building B, Xin Tian Di Plaza, Xi Ba He South Road.
Telephone 6446 2397, 6446 2395.
3. Wudaokou area - Lush, 2/F, Bldg 1, Huaqing Jiayuan, Chengfu Lu, Wudaokou.
Telephone 8286-3566.
For any other enquiries, please contact beijing@keanewzealand.com.
If you want to lend your support, but can’t attend the dinner, you can still donate to the Prime Minister’s earthquake fund at www.christchurchearthquakeappeal.govt.nz.
Photos courtesy of KEA Beijing and News.com.au.
