Norwood’s top donors attend Patrons Cocktail Party at The Serpentine Gallery
At its annual cocktail party this week, Norwood thanked 160 of its Patrons and Benefactors for their contribution to its success over the last twelve months, and highlighted areas of priority for the coming year’s fundraising activities.
Norwood Patrons are a group of dedicated donors, committed to supporting the organisation’s fundraising campaigns and activities, and include some of the most influential members of the community. The cocktail party, which is an annual event, this year attracted its highest ever attendance.
The Patrons were welcomed by Norwood President Sir Trevor Chinn CVO, and were given a private viewing of the Serpentine Gallery’s current Blinky Palermo exhibition. The exhibition, which opened to the public on March 25th, features the fabric-based creations, drawings and paintings on the innovative and influential twentieth-century German artist.
Norwood Chief Executive Norma Brier thanked the Patrons for their contributions to Norwood’s work over the past twelve months and outlined areas on which the charity’s fundraising would focus over the next year; the refurbishment of some of Ravenswood Village’s building and facilities in its fiftieth anniversary year; the re-location of the Annie Lawson School to a new site in Greater London, subject to planning permission; and Norwood’s Children & Family Services.
Norma Brier said: “Norwood is indebted to all of you here tonight for the commitment and dedication you have shown to the organisation over the past year. During a time of crisis in their lives, Norwood provides vital, specialised support to the most vulnerable members of our community and tackles issues that hit at the very heart of Anglo-Jewry and threaten its future.
I am sure most of you here tonight are aware of the financial pressure facing voluntary organisations like Norwood in this economic climate. Central Government and Local Authorities are tightening their budgets and scrutinising the funds available to services such as those provided by Norwood. But its precisely at times like these that people turn to Norwood for support in greater numbers. Over the next twelve months, we believe demand will increase by about 15%. With little, if any statutory funding available to fund this increase in demand, Norwood is all the more reliant on donations from you, our Patrons and Benefactors.
Tonight, I’ve announced an exciting and ambitious programme of fundraising priorities for Norwood over the next twelve months and have set out our vision for the future of Norwood’s services. This will only happen with your continued financial commitment, which will help Norwood turn this vision into a reality. Ultimately thousands of disabled and disadvantaged children and families will benefit. I thank you in advance for the your continued financial support.”
John Libson, Chairman of Norwood’s Board of Trustees, thanked Patrons of behalf of the Trustees and gratefully acknowledged sponsorship of the event by Investec Private Bank.
For more information contact...
Ronit Shebson
Public Relations Manager at Norwood
tel : 020 8420 6900
email : ronit.shebson@norwood.org.uk
