We have been raising money to support Polish hospitals for children by the purchase of medical equipment that helps to treat sick children and improve their chances of improvement. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation has also created a movement, which has helped to define non-governmental and charitable initiatives in Poland and for hundreds of thousands of Polish expats living all over the world. Each year, 1 700 Collection Centres - local hubs of activity located all over the world - organize the work of 120 000 volunteers - people of all ages and creeds who come together to create the biggest charitable fundraiser in Europe. Money is raised not only in Poland but also in Asia, Australia, all over Europe, the US and even on the North Pole!
Each year medical experts, doctors, and the medical team at the Foundation research the needs and wants of Polish children's hospitals and select the objective of each Grand Finale - we support different branches of medicine - from cancer treatment to pulmonology and diabetics. This year, the objective of the Grand Finale was to raise enough money to buy complicated, big pieces of equipment for specialized children's wards. We will be buying devices, which hospitals cannot otherwise afford to buy - MRI scanners, and other expensive medical devices. This year's Grand Finale Collection took place on the 13th of January.
We have raised PLN 175 938 717,56 (EUR 40 852 970,09 - as of exchange rate of March 8th)
The result of this year's collection, which is usually a joyous event, full of laughter and music has been overshadowed by a tragic event - the Mayor of Gdańsk has been attacked and died of his wounds when on stage during the final celebration of the day. Yet again, the Orchestra community came together and showed its strength, resilience, optimism and power of their spirit and trust in the power of people helping others. An online collection box organized on Facebook became the biggest Facebook fundraiser ever held in Europe - you have filled up the Mayor's last collection box with your generous donations - we have raised an additional PLN 15 000 000 - which will be used to buy equipment for paediatric hospitals in Gdańsk, which has been affected by the tragedy. It seems only fitting to come together again in this historic town to reveal the final result of the annual charitable fundraiser.