SUPPORT: Last year, the gala dinner marked one year on from the launch of Give a Gift with young and old celebrating the occasion
SUPPORT: Last year, the gala dinner marked one year on from the launch of Give a Gift with young and old celebrating the occasion

Charity initiative launches annual event

Less than two years ago the Give a Gift initiative was launched in Leeds as a way of getting the South Asian community more involved with supporting local mainstream causes.

Fast forward to the present day and with more than £40,000 raised and 1,500 toys donated, the once ‘pipeline dream’ has become a ‘thriving reality’.

Next month, the third annual Charity Gala Dinner will be held in support of the two local causes – Martin House Hospice and The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, as the 2015 calendar of events kicks off in style.

ENTERTAINMENT: Salah and Arooje perform on stage at last year’s event at the Aagrah Midpoint
ENTERTAINMENT: Salah and Arooje perform on stage at last year’s event at the Aagrah Midpoint

On Friday 5th June, hundreds are expected to gather at the Aagrah Midpoint where they will enjoy a drinks reception before a delicious three course meal with entertainment and a charity auction staged throughout the night.

Amongst the many entertaining acts will be Britain’s junior freestyle dance champion, who at the age of just ten-years-old, optimises what the youth are able to achieve with the right support in place.

Give a Gift ambassador, Rifhat Malik, says the support received over the past 20 months has been ‘phenomenal’ and hopes to continue building on the project’s success.

“Since our first event in 2013, we have received amazing support from the community and this year Give a Gift will be bigger and better than ever,” she said.

“Our annual gala dinner is a flagship event on the Give a Gift calendar and with people of all ages supporting this initiative it really shows how much of a difference we can all make to our local causes when working together.”

As well as the now annual dinner, over the past two years the Give a Gift team have run an array of events from 10k challenges, to fashion shows.

Most notably, the annual Ramadan toy appeal has so far seen over 1,000 toys handed over to children at Leeds General Infirmary and Martin House Children’s Hospice.

If you would like to attend the upcoming Gala Dinner, tickets are now available by contacting the Give a Gift team on 07734 882 116.