On the night of September 4th, we gathered at the incredible Machine Hall with some of our partners to share a meal, share a table, and harness the power of the collective.
OUR GOAL FOR THIS YEAR'S FOUNDATION DINNER WAS TO RAISE $250,000, FOR 25,000 MEALS DONATED TO WOMEN + CHILDREN LIVING IN CRISIS.
The cost of living crisis is impacting everyone, but none more so than the incredible services that support women fleeing violence.
Each year, we donate 35,000 meals as messages of love and support to these women’s refuges and community services. Our donated meals also have twice the impact, as they also create employment and training opportunities for our Work Work program, as well as link women to our PATHWAYS tool.
ALL TWOGETHER, we raised $228,690 - a whopping effort that we are beyond grateful for.
That's 22,869 Two Good meals that will be gifted into the community, filling the bellies (and hopefully, the hearts) of women and children who had no idea where their next meal was coming from.
Here were the takeaways of the night - and, of course, the many thanks that we owed to our community who rallied behind the cause and made this night such a success.
GOOD FOOD.
"I love that we are getting together tonight in what was once an electrical substation - because there are so many powerhouses in this room, and so much beautiful energy. A lot of that energy comes from our chef collaboration this year with the Fink Group, founded by Leon Fink in 1985 and built into a formidable force that has shaped Sydney dining into greatness...and we have an all star team of their top chefs in the kitchen right now."
Words from our long-term partner and ever-inspiring Do Gooder Jill Dupleix, who introduced the masters behind this year's feast. A huge thank you to all of our chef partners and food sponsors that helped us bring this night together, including:
Lennox Hastie and Swati Singh from GILDAS, for their Gildas and Basque cheesecakes
Rob Cockerill, Head Chef of BENNELONG, for his delectable canapes, including the most incredible prawn toast with chili aioli
Tim Mifsud and Troy Crisante, Co-Head Chefs of QUAY, for their beautiful salad of Ramarro Farm greens and brown butter potatoes with chestnut emulsion
Richard Ptacnik, Head Chef of OTTO Sydney, for his slow-braised lamb shoulder with gremolata
Storytelling is a sacred practice at Two Good; holding space, creating safety, allowing and empowering our Storytellers to share the roads they've travelled. Thank you to all who lent their voices and talents for the night, in hopes of inpsiring change and action, including:
Tiahna and Eva, our Two Good Work Work kitchen hands, for their beautiful Acknowledgement of Country
Our MCs, Deborah Knight (of NINE and 2GB) and David Campbell (of NINE), for guiding us through the night with such grace, and gifted us their talents in so many ways that night
Briannan Davis of Cooley Auctions, who roused the room into a whirlwind of joy and healthy competition for a worthy cause
Letesha, for her courage and candour sharing her story with Deb (watch below!)
Harpist Jake Meadows, for creating such an ethereal soundscape to the night
David Campbell and Mahalia Barnes, for bringing the night home with a surprise performance of Flame Trees
James of Storyboard Media, for the masterful creation of our video storytelling on the night
Jessica Lindsay, for her iconic B&W 'moving portraits' that brought so much warmth and magic to our space
So many powerful details go into the grand design of our Foundation Dinner; we are so lucky to have so many legends in our community, that deliver each element with such passion and generosity.
A huge thank you to:
The indefatigable Jamie Zamudio and his team from Fourth Wall