News

 73^rd BEN Ball Highlights

BEN once again hosted its Ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London during December making over £270,000 profit for the Charity.   This annual event is the highlight of the industry calendar and traditionally signals the start of the countdown to Christmas.

 

Gerard Barclay, BEN’s Chief Executive, welcomed over 1000 guests on the evening saying, “I am delighted once again ladies & gentlemen to welcome you to the Grosvenor House to celebrate the 73^rd BEN Ball. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to thank all of our supporters across a wide range of businesses that make up the automotive industry. This is our biggest fundraising event of the year which means we are able to help more families to overcome severe difficulties in their daily lives.”

 

“You will remember that last year we launched our new corporate identity and I am pleased to say that this has been very well received across the industry. We have re-launched our website to provide more information to our supporters and beneficiaries. Please register on the site as electronic communication and database management is an essential part of our future strategy.”

 

“Another milestone in BEN’s history was celebrated a few weeks ago which we celebrated in St James’s Palace with Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra who has been BEN’s Patron for the past 40 years, through which time she has kindly hosted a wide number of events throughout the UK. We are extremely grateful for her continued patronage.”

 

This is the last year that Christopher Macgowan will be our host at the Ball in his role as President of BEN and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him and the SMMT for all of the support that they have shown to the Fund over so many years and on a personal note we wish him well for all the exciting plans he has for the future.”

 

A Freelander 2 TD4 HSE 2008MY was auctioned during the evening and raised £32,500 for the Charity.    BEN was also delighted to receive a cheque for £9,500 from Chris Mann, publisher at Bodyshop Magazine which was raised during the recent Bodyshop Magazine Industry Awards.   Andrew Woodhouse also presented BEN’s Directors, Gerard Barclay and Charles Davis, with a cheque for £10,000 which was donated by the former Central England Ford Dealers Group.

 

Charles Davis, Director of Fundraising & Communications at BEN commented: “This was my first attendance at the BEN Ball and I am extremely proud to be part of this annual fundraising event.    I have a very efficient team of staff, headed by Kelly Neal, working in the background planning every detail of the evening.   My thanks go to them for their continued hard work.”   

 

The 2008 BEN Ball will be held on 10 December at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.   

 

 

Lorna Russell, Media Relations Officer, BEN

T: 01344 294765 M: 07920 138187 Fax 01344 622042

BEN is the Automotive Industry Charity, the only occupational charity for those who work or have worked in the automotive and related industries. Founded in 1905, the Charity provides practical help, support, advice and friendship to more than 15,000 men and women and their families every year. In addition BEN provides a home to over 350 individuals who reside in one of its four residential centres in the UK and offers day care facilities at its centre in Coventry.

Website: www.ben.org.uk