It was 2007, I was on maternity leave from my corporate job, and feeling very grateful for my life – I wanted to do something other than nappies and night feeds. So, alongside my beautiful friend Michelle we decided to host a little charity dinner to raise money for a cause. I had recently heard of a pool based exercise program for women with breast cancer at the RBWH that had lost its funding. We put the word out to our friends, enlisted the help of local publican Neil Shannon, and hosted 120 people at the very first GLAM It Up For Charity dinner. That year we raised $3,080 for the YWCA Encore program.
Fast forward 11 years, and how GLAM has grown!
This year, GLAM It Up For Charity is set to have raised over $100,000 for local causes, always with a specific focus on vulnerable women and children. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of so many people – we have collectively funded a special care bed for a children’s hospice, iPads for people with MND, teddy bears for kids of mums with cancer, laptops for mums with cancer, a kitchen for a homeless women’s shelter and more. (see the full list below).
This year is no different, GLAM It Up for Charity 2017 is thrilled to be collaborating with Mums 4 Refugees, to support Mercy Community Services’ Romero Centre and Global Sisters, in providing practical and emergency support to refugee and asylum seeking families in Brisbane.
The Romero Centre in Dutton Park was established in 2000 in response to the needs of people arriving in Australia seeking safety and human rights. The Romero Centre currently supports 300 individuals and families, many of whom can’t access food, shelter, employment, legal pathways and counselling support.
The #GLAM17 goal is to raise $20,000 to fund one Global Sisters workshop that will directly help up to 40 women at the Romero Centre to start their own micro business, and to establish an ’emergency fund’ for Romero Centre to provide emergency relief to families.
GLAM It Up For Charity dinner details are below – I hope you can come along! Follow the GLAM facebook page, and book your #GLAM17 tickets here:
History of GLAM
| Year | Charity | How much raised | For what | Venue |
| 1 – 2007 | YWCA Encore | $3,080.00 | New Encore program at RBWH | Onyx Bar Milton |
| 2 – 2008 | YWCA Encore | $3,300.00 | Encore Program Queensland | Onyx Bar Milton |
| 3 – 2009 | Mummy’s Wish | $3,700.00 | Ipads / computers for mums in hospital receiving cancer treatment | Onyx Bar Milton |
| 4 – 2010 | YWCA Encore | $3,350.00 | Encore Program Queensland | The Villager Hotel |
| 5 – 2011 | Mummy’s Wish | $3,790.00 | Teddy bears for children of mums with cancer | The Villager Hotel |
| 6 – 2012 | Olive McMahon Lodge | $10,875.00 | Olive McMahon Lodge provides free accommodation for people receiving cancer treatment in Toowoomba | The Villager Hotel |
| 7 – 2013 | Second Chance Program | $9,379.00 | New kitchens in women’s homeless shelters / refuges | The Villager Hotel |
| 8 – 2014 | MND and Me Foundation | $14,217.00 | Communication devices for people with MND | Loft West End |
| 9 – 2015 | Hummingbird House | $18,125.00 | Building the new hospice | Loft West End |
In 2016, we raised $20,648 for Orange Sky Laundry develop a new targeted service for women experiencing homelessness in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. In 2017 I hope we can again raise over $20,000 to provide practical and emergency support for refugee and asylum seeking families living in Brisbane.
charityspam 
Hi TC I think some of my group have already bought their tix, I have another few to buy – will try and do it before the weekend is out!! X
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