The biggest non-governmental organization in Poland begins a day of fundraising with a record sum of money already in their account - 11 000 000 PLN raised before the fundraiser began!
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity is a leading non-governmental initiative in Poland, with its main objective being buying medical equipment for hospitals offering medical treatment to children. In 27 years of charitable work, the organization has raised almost 1 000 000 000 PLN, purchasing and subsequently donating 59 700 pieces of equipment.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity traditionally holds a one-day public fundraiser which is organized locally - and wherever there is a vibrant Polish community willing to support medical care of children back home. This year, fundraising events held in aid of this objective are taking place, among others, in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Russia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Canada and the US.
This year the objective of the charity is to collect money in order to buy devices for highly specialized medcial wards treating seriously ill children and youngsters. The charity will be buying advanced, and consequently, expensive devices such as CT scanners. It is often the case that public hospitals are not able to afford the cost of the most sophisticated equipment.
Today the counter on the charity's website, which lists the sum raised by the charity in real time, shows a record sum collected - before the public collection has actually begun. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity has raised over 11 000 000 PLN (2 560 800 EUR). This result is chiefly the effect of various online methods of support available to the charity's benefactors.
The public can choose one of digital means of support. A complete list of all ways in which you can support the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation is available on the charity's website. People can donate via text, by a direct bank transfer and using social media channels - donating through Facebook , by tweeting with #MastercardGrazWOŚP, or watching a charitable live stream.
The day of fundraising was traditionally opened by a live orchestra performance. Photo: L. Lewandowska
