• Public gets behind the popular auction to bid for good
• Grants awarded to six local community charities to fund grassroots projects
• Sydney Airport is proud to support local communities and charities

Sydney Airport’s 2017 Lost Property Auction has raised $150,000 for charity, with proceeds to be distributed to six local community charities.

This year, Sydney Airport partnered with the Sydney Community Foundation to award one major grant and five additional grants to charity:

• $100,000 to fund 107 Projects’ Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square’s new 278-hectare community and cultural precinct;

• $10,000 to Orana NSW Inc. in Jannali to fund a social enterprise café to help vulnerable women and children in the Sutherland Shire;

• $10,000 to Royal Hospital for Women Foundation to fund its Malabar Midwives program empowering Indigenous women and mothers;

• $10,000 to Dress for Success, based in Marrickville, which helps to promote economic independence of women in need by providing professional clothing and career support services;

• $10,000 to Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown for its Work Readiness Program helping asylum seekers to connect with partner organisations to increase their employability; and

• $10,000 to St George Youth Services’ Thrive Youth Employment Hub in Rockdale providing services to vulnerable young people and their families, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather thanked the public for getting behind the charity auction.

“We’re thrilled to have raised $150,000 for charities doing great work in Sydney through our Lost Property Auction,” Ms Mather said.

“It’s a great opportunity for the public to get behind a worthy cause and help charities supporting people in need, including Indigenous women, victims of domestic violence, asylum seekers and vulnerable young people.”

“Thanks to everyone who made a bid for good and contributed to this stellar result for charity.” Sydney Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jane Jose said the organisation was proud to partner with Sydney Airport for the first time.

“Sydney Community Foundation was thrilled to combine our knowledge of grassroots community need in suburbs near Sydney Airport to ensure high impact community benefit from the granting from Sydney Airport’s 2017 Bid for Good Lost Property Auction.”

Pickles Online, Light Industrial and Recreational Manager Richard White said it was a great result for the community.

“The Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction is such a unique sale and one which always draws a great crowd,” Mr White said.

“Again this year we received a huge amount of interest with over 215,000 viewers on pickles.com.au. “We are always proud to partner with Sydney Airport for this fantastic cause and support a number of great charities.”

The annual Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction for charity was held online from Wednesday, 11 to Thursday, 19 October.

Hundreds of people attended the public viewing day on Tuesday, 10 October, with thousands more logging on to bid online.

The item which raised the highest price this year was a Leica M9 camera, which sold for a bargain price of $4,050. Other big ticket items included an Apple MacBook Pro, men’s and women’s watches, and a Gucci handbag.

The auction forms part of Sydney Airport’s community investment strategy which seeks to support local communities and help them to thrive, including in the areas of community arts and culture, education and employment, women and girls, and community cohesion.