RELEASED: 2 December 2011
Gold Coast businessmen have proven to be a charitable lot.
More than 130 of our male corporate leaders attended the latest Gold Coast Lads Lunch, which raised more than $35,000 for charity, bringing the total raised from the biannual event to in excess of $125,000 since it was launched three years ago.
Hickey Lawyers’ owner-partner Dan Marino, who started the initiative and spearheads the event, said the money raised from the lunch, held at Hilton Surfers Paradise’s Salt
Grill restaurant last Friday (November 25), would benefit various charities.
Gold Coast Community Fund and Apex Southport will each receive $15,000, with the balance to be divided amongst various other local charities.
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PERRY CROSS SPINAL RESEARCH GIVEN A $30,000 BOOST
RELEASED: 9 December 2010
The Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation has been given a boost to help continue funding research into spinal injury, thanks to a $30,000 donation.
Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation founder Perry Cross said the injection, the proceeds of the bi-annual Gold Coast Lads’ Lunch, organised by Hickey Lawyers partner Dan Marino, would go a long way to helping find a cure for spinal damage.
The Foundation is funding a Bond University scholarship program to find out more about regeneration, with the study currently two years into its three year program.
“There is plenty more research that can be done, but it is just a matter of getting the funding to do it,” said Mr Cross, who became a quadriplegic at age 19 following a rugby tackle in 1994.
“We are looking at some other options at the moment, one is a pretty groundbreaking type of research and I’m hoping to be able to talk more about it in the near future.”
Mr Cross said the Foundation was also set to benefit from the sale of a pin at the upcoming Magic Millions, which would provide a further funding boost.
“We rely on these donations, so any funding we can receive from the private sector goes a long way to helping us find out more and, hopefully, a treatment,” said Mr Cross.
Mr Marino, who established the Gold Coast Lads’ Lunch in early 2009, said despite tough economic conditions, Gold Coast businessmen had dug deep to support the initiative.
“The Gold Coast Lads’ Lunch has only continued to grow and it is great to see so many of our business leaders helping out such a worthy cause,” he said.
“We are already planning our next lunch for April and while we have been getting great support from those who attend on the day, we also need help from those that can donate an item for our charity auction to ensure we raise as much as possible.
“The proceeds of the Lads Lunch are always donated to a different Gold Coast based charity, so it is a great way of giving back to the local community.”
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RELEASED: 2/12/2010
Hickey Lawyers’ owner-partner Dan Marino has once again raised the bar with his
bi-annual Gold Coast Lads Lunch, raising more than $30,000 for the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation – with a little help from one of his colleagues.
St John Lord, an associate at the firm, splashed out $3,750 at the charity auction
for a surfboard signed by the late Andy Irons, the highest price paid for an item on the day.
Mr Marino, who launched the bi-annual fundraiser in early 2009, said the surfboard had helped raise thousands for charity over the years.
“I actually bought it myself for $1350 at our fundraising lunch in April 2009 at Lauxes and decided to donate it back to help raise more funds this time around,” he said.
More than 125 of the who’s who of businessmen on the Gold Coast attended the lunch, held on Friday (November 26) at Ristorante Fellini, exceeding the efforts of the last fundraiser in April where $20,000 was raised for Multiple Sclerosis Queensland.
Mr Marino is already preparing for the next Gold Coast Lads Lunch, to be held in April 2011.
“We are looking for donations for our next charity auction and welcome anything that will help us raise as much as possible for local charities,” he said.
“The proceeds always benefit a Gold Coast based charity, so it is a great way of giving back to the local community.”
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GC BUSINESSMEN PITCH IN $20,000 FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
RELEASED: 6/05/2010
More than 100 of the Gold Coast’s leading businessmen have opened their wallets in the name of charity.
Over $20,000 was raised for Multiple Sclerosis Queensland at the bi-annual Gold Coast Lads’ Lunch, held at the swish Glass Dining and Lounge Bar at Marina Mirage last Friday (April 30).
Dan Marino, who has been busy organising the luncheon while managing his new role as an owner-partner at Hickey Lawyers, said the effort doubled the amount raised at the last Lads’ Lunch in late 2008.
“The Gold Coast’s business community has really supported this event, with many of the city’s businessmen now regular attendees,” he said.
“It is fantastic to have witnessed their commitment, which resulted in us raising such a
significant sum for charity in these continued tough economic times.
“In these times especially it is important to give back to those in need and Gold Coast
charities with lower support networks can really do with our help.”
Glass Dining and Lounge Bar supplied a degustation menu, worth about $2500, for the event, with other businesses pitching in items for the charity auction including signature
surf boards from City Beach Australia, Blaze jerseys and Titans jerseys from team members of the respective clubs.
Multiple Sclerosis Queensland, Donor Relations Manager, Natalie Walsh said the money would be invested into continued research to find a cure for the disease.
“MS Queensland is thrilled with the success of the Lads’ Lunch,” she said.
“It is a fantastic event with amazing support from the Gold Coast Business Community; $20,000 is an incredible amount of money to receive. This money will help find a cure for MS, as well as fund vital support and service programs for thousands of
Queenslanders.”
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