“Thank-you Shenzhen” – 4th Annual Charity Auction Update

Saturday October 13 we were once again blown away by the amazing support this community continues to give to the Seng Girls Program and Captivating International. Words fail to describe how incredible this feels to all of us here at Captivating who see over 80 volunteers and organizers give freely of their time to make an awesome night happen, and close to 600 guests come together to help a great cause.  You are all hero’s to us and we are humbled and touched by your willingness to journey with Captivating and these 140 beautiful girls.

Special thanks needs to go to so many people – corporate sponsors, organizers, volunteers, drink and auction item donors,  ticket holders, auction bidders, child sponsors, the school choirs and directors, and so many many more.  We owe so much to Lynn Velez and her world class organizing committee who worked for months to make this happen.  To have Dragon Fruit Events lead the charge on the night was fantastic with constant feedback being that everyone liked the extra “bling” this year – all this for free.  We’re quite speechless about it all.

SO, THE BIG QUESTION:  HOW DID WE GO?

This was our best year yet. A total of RMB1,077,299 was raised pushing us past last years amazing result.  We gambled a little by having over 50 fewer live auction items in order to keep the night more fun and you came through for these girls with energetic bidding (thanks Kate and Gus).  Child sponsorship was also fantastic with 51 child sponsorships taken up.

Although we were a little short of our ultimate goal for the night of RMB1.25m, your support still ensures the girls home and vocational development program will continue to run in accordance with our budget, plans and objectives for this next year.  It also means we have enough to complete the income producing guest and tea house as well as one of our planned expansion programs starting to address the root causes of poverty in this region of the world.  We are excited about this and will update you on our steps in this new area focused on village development.

In the meantime, take time to enjoy many photos from the night and please ensure to email us with any suggestions or ideas for next years event.  If you sponsored a child, you will shortly receive a welcome pack and child profile from our office.  Also, keep your eyes open for regular blog and project updates on this and our other projects at www.captivating.org simply by selecting the blog button.

Thanks for joining our journey!

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