By Nancy Fairbank - Marshall Scholar and 2018-19 Charities Rep
The 2019 Trinity College MCR raised £2,000 at the 2019 edition of its annual gala dinner, which will be donated to two local charities. The gala dinner is hosted each May and includes both raffles and an auction event where attendees can bid on prizes donated by MCR members. Auction items up for bid this year included a weekend in the Welsh coastal town of Borth, a personalized tour of the Old Library, a trip up Trinity Tower, French and painting lessons, and an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party held in the Deanery of Christ Church . The gala’s ticket sales and the proceeds from the raffles and auction bids generate the funds that are then given to charities that support the broader Oxford community.
Members of the MCR share a light moment during the gala dinner
Photographer: Izzy Romilly
The charities selected to receive donations this year are The Gatehouse and Thames Valley Air Ambulance. The Gatehouse is a drop-in center that provides food, clothing, and other necessities to Oxford’s homeless population. Trinity’s MCR has been partnering with The Gatehouse throughout the 2018-2019 school year, hosting three donation drives to collect items that can be distributed by the charity. The additional financial donation provided by the gala fundraiser will help ensure that the staff at The Gatehouse can continue serving vulnerable people in our community.
Attendees of the 2019 MCR Charity Gala Dinner pose during the drinks reception
Photographer: Izzy Romilly
Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) is the local air ambulance for Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. Their helicopters are manned by a paramedic and doctor team, who bring crucial skills and expertise to emergency and trauma situations in the above regions within 15 minutes. TVAA prides their organisation on leading signifcant innovations in the field, such as being the first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service unit in the U.K. to use plasma on board for trauma patients in critical condition. TVAA is not government funded and relies heavily on donations to continue their life-saving operations.
The 2018-2019 Trinity Charity Gala was made possible through the tireless work of our MCR Committee. Committee members include Said Said, Ngoni Mugwisi, Cosima Gillhammer, Michael Garstka, Rhiannon Heard, Neale Marlow, and Johann Paccou, with special thanks to Neale Marlow for leading the gala and Owain James for auctioneering. The Trinity MCR is grateful to everyone who attended the gala, donated items for auction, and helped us raise money to support these two excellent charities. We hope to see you again next May!