TalkTalk’s Night of Ambition raises just over £400,000 for the charity in one night
Ambitious about Autism, the national charity for children and young people with autism is delighted to announce that a record £402,975 was raised at Night of Ambition, an annual fundraising gala hosted by their long-standing corporate supporter, TalkTalk on 10th November.
The funds raised at this event has brought TalkTalk’s overall fundraising total for the charity to just over £3 million.
Broadcaster Johnny Vaughan compered the gala at the unique pop-up, Supernova, on Victoria Embankment Gardens. The event was attended by over 450 leaders from across the telecom industry including Sir Charles Dunstone and Baroness Dido Harding of Winscombe, Chief Executive of TalkTalk Group.
Guests were encouraged to bid on a number of “money can’t buy” auction lots which included; a pair of signed running shoes from the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt; and a week’s holiday to a top resort in the Philippines with business class flights. Other lots included sport memorabilia signed by Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Andy Murray, and VIP tickets to see England play at Wembley.
The funds raised will support Ambitious about Autism to continue to run and develop vital services for children and young people with autism and their families. One of the projects TalkTalk has supported is Talk about Autism – an online community where families can get advice, support and share their experiences. Today, the online forum has over 10,000 members and received over 250,000 visits last year.
Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, said;
“TalkTalk has yet again surpassed all expectations in their support and commitment. During the course of our partnership, TalkTalk has raised just over £3 million and this money has enabled us to provide a number of important services for children and young people with autism. We simply wouldn’t be able to do the work we do without them.
“Night of Ambition has once again secured much needed funds for our work with children and young people with autism, and their families. I would like to thank everybody for their incredible generosity”.
Baroness Dido Harding, Chief Executive of TalkTalk Group, added;
“We are immensely proud of our ten year partnership with Ambitious about Autism. The work they do is absolutely transformational, and we are delighted the record amount raised tonight will mean they can achieve even more.”
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Notes to Editor:
For media enquiries or further information please contact Gabriella Brooks on 020 8815 5134 Mob: 07850 915 716 or email:gbrooks@ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
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Ambitious about Autism is the national charity for children and young people with autism. We provide services, raise awareness and understanding, and campaign for change. Through TreeHouse School and Ambitious College we offer specialist education and support.
- Our ambition is to make the ordinary possible for more children and young people with autism.
- Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects 1 in 100 people in the UK. It affects the way a person communicates and how they experience the world around them.
- TalkTalk is the UK’s leading value for money provider of broadband, TV, mobile and telephone services.
- TalkTalk has supported Ambitious about Autism for ten years and has raised £3, 041,201,39 over the course of the partnership, engaging TalkTalk employees, suppliers and customers, as well as providing services to Ambitious about Autism’s two schools and Ambitious College.
- Together with the annual Night of Ambition gala, other fundraising initiatives have included; Manchester to London bike ride, dragon boat racing and a cricket match for TalkTalk suppliers.