Variety raises record $5.2m

VARIETY WA raised a record $5.2 million this year, lifting its net income by 42 per cent from $3.7 million last year.

The charity helped 30 per cent more children through its grants.

About 30,400 children received help from the 432 grants approved by Variety WA this year, up from 329 last year.

The charity awarded $3.2 million of the money raised through its three programs -the Freedom program, Future Kids program and Caring for Kids program.

This year also marked the opening in June of its new premises in Burswood. Lotterywest contributed $1.2 million towards the building and Variety WA raised the remaining $210,000.

The charity picked up more corporate support. Channel Nine and eight corporate partners joined the charity, increasing its corporate partnership body to 33 members.

Part of Variety WA’s fundraising is its annual Santa Fun Run, the third of which was held last weekend.

The four-kilometre run around Fremantle’s Esplanade Reserve raised more than $44,000 from 1,600 runners. It raised $40,000 from about 1,200 participants last year.

More corporate teams supported the fun run this year.