Last Friday afternoon at the National Wine Centre, a sold-out audience of just 300 people celebrated the Living Without Limits Foundation’s inaugural “Footy Legends Lunch”.
The Foundation, a not-for-profit children’s charity founded in 2012 by Phillip de Pinto of Universal Motor Auctions, Maras Group CEO Steve Maras and BDO Adelaide partner, George Yatzis, was created to raise funds for very specific purposes primarily in relation to Autism and Cerebral Palsy.
One of the Foundation’s leading objectives is to develop a House of Respite by the seaside to provide an opportunity for families of affected children to have a break from their daily challenges, and enjoy a short holiday, something critically needed by hundreds of families.
South Australian football royalty was on show with three of the State’s best ever football identities – Neil Kerley, Barrie Robran and Russell Ebert, involved in a memorable panel discussion led by lively MC, Brent Felice, of Coopers.
Between them, these immortal football champions have won 7 Magarey medals, 19 best and fairest trophies, 9 SANFL premierships, played 918 senior games and 78 State games, are all Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees, and much more. They each had the audience fascinated with their views of the game and there were plenty of older football stories, some of which had never been told.
Other special guests included former AFL CEO, Wayne Jackson, and former champion basketballer, and coach, Phil Smyth.
A special video relating to the impacts of Autism and Cerebral Palsy was played and certainly had the crowd well and truly captivated.
One of the highlights of the day was the auction, conducted by Foundation Chairman and leading motor vehicle auctioneer, Phillip de Pinto. The auction drew spirited and frenetic bidding from
the outset from an enthusiastic crowd clearly eager to support the efforts of the Foundation. All up, just under $40,000 was raised during the afternoon exceeding all expectations, with post event donations still filtering through. It is anticipated that the final number raised will edge closer to $50,000.
“We were simply overwhelmed by the support shown on the day, and the many sponsors who donated auction items and in-kind support leading up to the event. We cannot be happier with the outcome and it is all going towards our goal of establishing a House of Respite. It is important for all our sponsors and supporters to know that the Foundation directors absorb all costs and pay no wages or administration fees meaning that 100% of the funds raised will go where they should be going”, said Chairman Mr de Pinto.
Maras Group Managing Director and Foundation Vice Chair, Steve Maras, thanked and paid tribute to the three football legends for supporting the Foundation and its valuable work and also made special mention of the relentless and tenacious efforts of Chairman Phillip de Pinto “in creating a charity that will have long lasting benefits for hundreds, hopefully thousands of families in South Australia for many years to come”. He also went on to say that “it is incumbent on all of us who are able, to do our bit wherever and whenever we can to give back to the community and society and make a small difference, as the sum of all those ‘small differences’ will certainly add up to something quite significant”.
The Living Without Limits Foundation has several more fundraising events and projects in the pipeline and are looking forward to announcing these shortly.
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