An amazing charity that supports parents of children with autism was the big winner in the Philanthropic Foundation’s biggest ever Golden Giveaway, as £25,000 was shared between 24 Teesside worthy causes.
In a presentation at the Riverside Stadium, Autism Parents Together – Tees Valley were announced as the £5,000 winners after topping a series of facebook polls.
The funds were made possible by the generosity of 50 foundation patrons – Teesside companies and wealthy individuals who want to share their success with others.
A number of them presented cheques to the winners – including foundation trustee David Henderson, a director at Tees firm px Group, who welcomed around 75 guests representing local charities, community groups and schools.
Autism Parents Together, who received their cheque from David, will use the donation to fund special activities for Teessiders with autism and their parents.
Second place in the facebook poll were previous £5,000 winners @Neoangels, a very special charity that this time received £2,500 – presented by Helen Lyne of Archers Law – to help them provide family food vouchers for those caring for poorly babies in the region’s neonatal units.
And cheques for £1,750 were presented to both Tees Valley Womens Centre and Trinity Holistic Centre – James Cook and Friarage Hospitals. TVWC, who received their cheque from Zoe Arkell of Stockton-based InBond, will put the money towards funding an outside play area for children.
Meanwhile, @Lisa Corley of Barclays, Middlesbrough made the presentation to Trinity, who’ll put the money towards building a summer house to enable patients on the cancer wards at James Cook University Hospital to have visits from their dogs or cats.
Another big cheque, for £1,500, was presented by Ken Devereux of Devereux Transport and Distribution to Happy Talk Stroke Group to fund events for Teessiders who’ve had a stroke.
Another £1,500 went to Hartlepool Special Needs Support Group, with David Henderson again presenting the cheque to fund activities for those with disabilities.
£1,500 was also presented to Stockton Hope – funding children’s activities in the Hardwick estate – by Shaun Hughes of Erimus Insurance Brokers.
And a fourth £1,500 presentation was made by Harriet Spalding of Mandale Homes to charity Rubies towards their ongoing commitment to raise the self-esteem and belief of young girls in the Grangetown area of Middlesbrough.
Anthony Suddes of Middlesbrough-based AV Dawson Limited presented cheques of £500 to Young at Heart ULO, Tees Valley Sound Tennis andSubmit 2 Success.
Ken Devereux presented £500 cheques to Streets Ahead for Information, Spreading the Happin,Rosebrook Primary School and @Middlesbrough Sportability Club.
Middlesbrough FC’s Carleigh Stafford was on hand to present £500 each to Matrix Neurological, North Ormesby Primary Academy and Hartlepool Headland ABC Boxing Club.
And Helen Lyne of Archers Law presented £500 cheques to Hand in Hand Activities, Redcar-based Footprints in the Community and Building Blox.
£500 winners 2nd Thornaby Rainbows and the Chris Cave Foundation were unable to attend.
Pictures by Doug Moody.
