A gourmet three-course dinner served to your table, an open bar, a fabulously varied local art auction, and the opportunity to dance the night away?
If that sounds like a magic night out for you or your business team, the upcoming Women’s Support Motueka gala might be the perfect ticket.
Organisation manager Maluz Moreno, together with Michelle Hunt and Chaning Valdes, have teamed up with local artist Abby McCall to coordinate the event, and the group is excited about how it is taking shape.
Abby says they have already received a variety of art donated from within the area and beyond. Ceramics, jewellery, furniture, and art experiences, as well as paintings, will be among the evening’s offerings.
More art is still being gratefully received until Wednesday, 20 August, and artists have the option to donate their pieces outright or to receive 25 per cent of the sale price.
Abby intends to release the catalogue before the event, both to give buyers some time to immerse themselves in the offerings and to allow non-attendees a chance to line up their bids with a ticket-holder.
Auctioneer Mark Rumsey will be in full swing after the entrées have been served.
The event’s appetizers have been donated by Motueka’s New World, and Maluz says the ticket price also includes a decadent three-course meal, as well as an open bar with beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages.
She says the inspiration comes from the successful fundraising efforts of other charities, both locally and internationally, helping them remain sustainable.
Maluz has previously helped coordinate fundraising galas in her native Panama, and she hopes this event will raise both funds and awareness for the work undertaken by Women’s Support Motueka.
The organisation was established almost four decades ago, and each year it offers free, confidential support to hundreds of women facing challenges such as family harm, addictions, depression, isolation, grief, and financial hardship.
“Not many people want to talk about family harm, but this is an opportunity for us to say, ‘We’re here, we can help’.”
Tickets are on sale now, via wsm.org.nz/gala-2025, and cost $150 each (tables of 10 are also available). Sales close Wednesday, 10 September - no door sales will be available.
The event is to be held at Motueka’s Memorial Hall, on Saturday, 13 September, with doors opening at 6pm.
For art donations or enquiries, contact Abby at artcoordinator@wsm.org.nz.
