Millions raised in annual Polish fundraising bash
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
11.01.2016 12:28
Annual fundraising initiative the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOSP) had notched up over PLN 43.4 million (EUR 9.94 million) by midnight on Sunday, when the grand finale of the action wrapped up.
A concert on Warsaw's Plac Defilad (Parade Square) during the Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. PAP/Leszek Szymański
As per usual the complete amount of money raised will not be clarified for several weeks, but Sunday's figures exceeded those of the Grand Finale in 2015.
Last year, by midnight on the culminating Sunday the charity had raised PLN 36.2 million (EUR 8.29 million), although the overall figure confirmed in early March was PLN 53.1 million (EUR 12.16 million).
About 120,000 volunteers took to the streets of cities and towns across Poland on Sunday to raise money for pediatric care and nursing facilities for the elderly.
As in previous years, members of the public were given the charity's trademark heart-shaped stickers for putting money in the kitty, however small the amount.
Concerts were held in many localities, and numerous organisations and celebrities had earlier donated items to be sold off at auction.
There was also a fundraising run in aid of diabetes sufferers.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity has been organised by impresario Jerzy Owsiak since 1993. (nh)