The result of our annual charitable fundraiser, which is the biggest fundraiser taking place in Poland, surpassed our expectations. We raised money despite the pandemic, accounting for all restrictions and putting our volunteers' health and safety and benefactors first. Even though we had to move the date of our Grand Finale fundraiser and emphasise safe, online donation options, we decided to go forward with our charitable collection, one of the highlights for local communities and Polish communities overseas.
We have never been and will never be driven by setting new fundraising records; on the contrary, we are always the happiest when we hear about small, local initiatives, which show that people are participating in our fundraiser. We are delighted when we hear about activists from Polish communities overseas who, despite the distance from Poland, from their homeland, decided to showcase our charity in their communities. Our fundraiser is all about communities coming together, about people showing that they are active in their communities, about neighbours supporting each other. Only together, we can build a country that is a place of tolerance, friendship, and responsibility.
The money we raised in 2021 will be used to buy high-class, super modern medical equipment for public paediatric hospitals in Poland. Each year, based on hospitals and medics' demands and needs, we select the Grand Finale fundraiser's medical objective. This year, we raised money to buy devices for children's ENT medicine - focusing our efforts on increasing the level of care offered to the youngest of patients at laryngological, otolaryngological and head diagnostic wards in the country.
The result would not have been possible without the participation of our volunteers and local Collection Centres. This year we were joined by 1362 Collection Centres, which raised 46,6% of the sum. There were also 79 Collection Centres based overseas. However, the majority of donations flew from the internet - a variety of online payments, which closely mimicked the traditional donation experience, brought almost 64% of the sum. For those chasing that interaction with volunteers, there were 75 000 volunteers fundraising in the streets.
Next's year's 30th anniversary Grand Finale will take place on January 30th, 2022.
Traditionally, on Fridays just before the Grand Finale fundraiser, the GOCC Foundation hosts a press conference to sum up the preparations for the annual collection. Jurek Owsiak will present all our initiatives, actions, and activities as we prepare to celebrate another edition of the joyous celebration of kindness!
On 5 December, we organized the 68th Open Tender dedicated to the aim of the 30th Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, i.e. paediatric ophthalmology.
Five days before the 32nd Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, we visited the 'Pomnik - Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka' (Children's Memorial Health Institute) to ceremoniously inaugurate the first Ophthalmic Simulation Laboratory in Europe dedicated exclusively to the field of peadiatric ophthalmology.
