• The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal raised a record $316,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities
• Funds will support Randwick House and Westmead House
• The Appeal has raised more than $1.1 million for charity over five years

The Sydney Airport Community Christmas Giving Appeal has raised a record $316,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charites (RMHC), to help provide a home away from home for sick kids and their families.

Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather welcomed the outstanding result and thanked everyone involved in the six-week fundraising effort.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the results of our fifth-annual Christmas Appeal to help those in our community who need it most,” Ms Mather said.

“In just five years we’ve raised more than $1.1 million for charity through this fantastic appeal, as we strive to make a difference in the Sydney and NSW community.

“This outcome is a credit to the support of our entire airport community – including passengers, staff, airport and corporate partners, stakeholders and the general public – who all came together to make the appeal a success.

“Special thanks go to the 635 volunteers who took time out during the busy Christmas period to collect donations and sell raffle tickets throughout our terminals.”

RMHC Australia CEO Barbara Ryan thanked Sydney Airport for its support.

“This is the second year Sydney Airport has chosen to support RMHC and we are incredibly grateful for this opportunity – and to everyone who helped raise much needed funds for our programs and the families they assist,” Ms Ryan said.

“Each year our houses host over 8,000 families, keeping them close to each other and the care they need for their sick child.

“We also provide a range of support programs including the Ronald McDonald Learning program, family rooms and family retreats.”

Funds raised as part of the appeal will go towards supporting families staying at the Randwick and Westmead houses.

Sydney Airport’s three partner Rotary clubs – Marrickville, Botany Bay and Rockdale – once again donated their coin collection bins during the six weeks of the appeal, contributing $24,000 to the fundraising total.

“The Rotary Clubs of Botany, Marrickville and Rockdale are very 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 that supported the 2016 appeal, including Rotary, Hawker Pacific, Rydges, Volkswagen Australia and Heinemann Tax & Duty Free. The appeal also received in-kind support from AWPL, SNP Security, Qantas, Carbridge, Antler Luggage, Australian Fine Jewellery and Social Playground.

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

This year’s appeal featured the Sydney Airport Runway Run, which was open to the public for the first time. Other fundraising activities included the Dinner at Dusk Hangar Dinner, activations, a Volkswagen car raffle and volunteer collections across the airport.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is a not-for-profit organisation providing services and support to families whose children are receiving treatment for serious illness at 16 houses across Australia.

The appeal received pledges and donations from a number of businesses, including:

• AECOM Australia
• Airport Link
• Allens
• Antler Luggage
• AWPL
• Baiada Poultry
• Craama Group
• EISS
• Emirates
• Ernst & Young
• Fidelity Investments
• Google
• Grimshaw Architects
• Hamel Group
• King & Wood Mallesons
• KPMG
• Lagardere Travel Retail
• McDonalds
• McGregor Coxall
• Mortgage Choice
• Premium Beverages
• PwC
• Retail Performance Research
• SAGE Automation
• Seven Network
• SNP Security
• Trippas White Group
• UBS
• Vanderlande
• WH Smith