Fundraising Through Song For Unpaid Carers

Strike up the band and raise a toast for the encore you won’t want to miss.

After a glittering sold-out debut in 2023, the Unsung Heroes Gala is back for another star-studded night of fundraising through song, and tickets are now on sale.

The inaugural event set the bar high, with over $350,000 raised for The Carers Foundation Australia, thanks to show-stopping numbers by the Singing Heroes, and the generous support of corporate partners and 350 guests.

A brand-new cohort of Singing Heroes has been unveiled for the 2024 event, set to take place on Saturday, 5th October at Brisbane’s premier entertainment venue Fortitude Music Hall. Each singing hero will use their voice to raise funds to build Australia’s first-ever 24/7 Wellbeing and Education Support Centre for unpaid carers, explains Founder & CEO Ronnie Benbow OAM.

“This year we have nine prominent business and community leaders warming up their vocal cords as they prepare to transform into rockstars and raise awareness and funds for Australia’s unsung heroes: our unpaid family carers,” Director of The Carers Foundation Australia Ronnie Benbow OAM said.

The 2024 Singing Heroes line-up includes Olympic Gold Medallist Swimmer Libby Trickett, Elite Wheelchair Athlete Natasha Price, The Coffee Club Founder & CEO John Lazarou, City of Moreton Bay Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway and many more (see full list on page 3).

The Singing Heroes have an exciting journey ahead, with many planning events and activities to help them reach their $20,000 fundraising goal, with some singing and dancing lessons in between.

Mrs Benbow said: “Although many of our Singing Heroes are known for their confidence and successes in the board room or sporting arena, they will need to draw on new skills to take on the challenge of stepping on stage to sing in front of 500 people.

“Our Singing Heroes are taking their role seriously, and they’ll be working with our very talented Vocal Coach and Creative Director Lisa Lockland-Bell from Performance Studios, to help fine tune their best voices for the ‘sing-off finale’ on Gala Night.”

Unsung Heroes is much more than an event, it’s a movement and the goal is bold and clear; to raise $5 million in three years to build Australia’s first-ever 24/7 Wellbeing and Education Support Centre for unpaid carers.

“Our Singing Heroes are doing more than just singing, they are laying foundational bricks for the Wellbeing Centre and cementing their place in its legacy,” said Mrs Benbow.

“Unpaid carers are the true unsung heroes in our communities, placing the needs of others before their own, often at the expense of their physical and mental health. Our aim is to ensure that these carers receive the 24/7 support and care they deserve, when they need it most.”

Tickets to the Unsung Heroes Gala are on sale from 10am, Wednesday 13th March, and guests are being encouraged to secure their tickets early to avoid disappointment, as tickets are limited.

“Following the success of last year’s sold-out event, we’ve added more tickets as well as a brand-new allocation on the Mezzanine,” Mrs Benbow said.

“No matter where you’re sitting, we guarantee an exciting night that will have you out of your chair dancing and singing along to the tunes and digging deep to support the Singing Heroes.”

Premium seating is available at ground level, with tables of 10 and individual tickets, which includes a delicious three-course meal and four-hour beverage package.

Mezzanine tickets are also on sale and include a welcome drink on arrival and light refreshments.

Thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors and businesses, guests will have the chance to win fantastic prizes in the raffle, plus the opportunity to bid on the live and silent auction items.

If businesses are interested in supporting Unsung Heroes and the work of The Carers Foundation Australia, please contact belinda@matchsticks.com.au to discuss partnership opportunities.

As a charity that receives no government funding, The Carers Foundation Australia survives thanks to ongoing fundraisers, such as Unsung Heroes, corporate sponsorship, and generous donations from the community.

To find out more about our 2024 Singing Heroes, purchase tickets or to donate, visit unsung24.raisely.com