• Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal raises record $287,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities
• Funds will go to 16 Ronald McDonald Houses including Randwick House near the airport
• Thanks to airport community, corporate partners and the public for an outstanding fundraising outcome

The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal has raised a record $287,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), with all funds raised going towards helping sick kids and their families.

“We’re thrilled that our fourth annual Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal was our most successful yet, raising a record $287,000 for charity,” Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said.

“We’d like to thank the airport community – including passengers, staff, airport partners, stakeholders, corporate partners, local Rotary clubs and the general public – for their tremendous generosity and contribution to the appeal’s success.

“A special thanks to the 400 volunteers who dedicated their time to collect donations, sell raffle tickets and gift wrap presents, playing a significant role in this fantastic result.”

Sydney Airport and RMHC will host an event at Ronald McDonald House Randwick, featuring an official cheque presentation ceremony to RMHC’s dedicated staff and volunteers.

“The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal will benefit every House with the funds raised being distributed across our 16 Houses supporting the thousands of families staying with us annually. As many as 321 families will be sleeping at a Ronald McDonald House tonight and last year we provided a home away from home for over 7,000 families,” RMHC CEO Barbara Ryan said.

RMHC Randwick House Executive Officer Chantell Keating said a significant contribution to Ronald McDonald House Randwick near the airport will go towards the upgrade of a family ‘rest and reflect’ area.

“With 32 families a night staying at our House, it will be so nice for the families to have a quiet, relaxing area to regain their strength for their continued challenging journey ahead,” Ms Keating said.

The Parsons family, who have stayed at the Randwick House for six months, shared their experience: “It’s difficult when you have a seriously ill child and you are away from the support of your family and friends. Ronald McDonald House has given us a soft and supporting place to land in a very difficult situation. It’s such a necessity and we will be forever grateful.”

Sydney Airport’s three partner Rotary clubs – Marrickville, Botany Bay and Rockdale – again donated their foreign coin collection bins during the six weeks of the appeal, contributing $21,000 to the fundraising total.

“Rotary is proud to be part of the Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal. It is a fantastic result and even more wonderful knowing that we are helping children in need,” Rotary Club of Botany Bay’s Mark Daniels said.

Sydney Airport and RMHC thanked the many corporate partners which supported the 2015 appeal, including major partners Rotary, Rex, Domayne, Volkswagen, Hawker Pacific, Rydges Sydney Airport, Heinemann and AirportLink.

The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal is a six-week fundraising and awareness raising campaign which unites the airport community in support of a great cause.

The 2015 appeal featured Sydney Airport’s first ever Runway Run, a VIP Hangar Lunch, entertainment, decorations, activations, gift wrapping services, a Volkswagen car raffle and volunteer collections across the airport.