A dashing movie premier night – featuring ladies in evening gowns and gentlemen in tuxedos – of the new James Bond 007 blockbuster Skyfall helped BNI Accelerate and BNI Generators raise more than $7,300 for hospice.
BNI Accelerate Events Co-coordinator, Gaye Fisher of Newbuild, said the chapter could have sold the movie twice over – all the money was donated to Mary Potter Hospice Wellington.
“We had 481 seats and sold the lot. We also sold Gold Lounge tickets for $5 more than the standard tickets and, even then, buyers weren’t guaranteed a Gold Lounge Seat. They had to go into a raffle to actually get a place – but buyers didn’t mind because it was for a good cause
“Sponsors donated prizes and we enlisted Generators to work with us to sell tickets, fill lolly bags and donate items for auction – it was a team effort between BNI Accelerate and BNI Generators,” said Gaye.
Moviegoers were given a bag of lollies with a BNI flyer and a mystery envelope – some envelopes contained prizes and some did not. Certain prizes, like a free valuation and an amount towards an architectural drawing of a house, were auctioned off and raised $1,900 towards the total.
“Everybody had to sell 12 tickets and it wasn’t a problem at all. Our chapter photographer and chapter treasurer Jonathan Cutts orchestrated a lot of it. He really worked hard.
“Now we have the template to do it again next year,” said Gaye.
