Sony Foundation’s Wharf4Ward event in Woolloomooloo raises $520k for youth cancer – part of Sony and CanTeen’s ‘You Can’ campaign

The stars were out in force yesterday for Sony Foundation’s annual Wharf4Ward fundraising lunch. Woolloomooloo Wharf hosted 850 guests to a day of fine food, wine and entertainment all the while raising a staggering $520,000 for Sony Foundation’s charity campaign ‘You Can’ – a national fundraising and awareness campaign set up by Sony Foundation and CanTeen to raise much-needed funds for specialised youth cancer care and services around the country.

Sony Music artists including Justice Crew, Timomatic and US band Hot Chelle Rae performed as well as a surprise performance from Jessica Mauboy that ended the day and got everyone up and dancing. The X Factor finalists also put on a show.

The event was hosted by supporters from each major network: Channel Seven’s Samantha Armytage, James Tobin, Natalie Bassingthwaite and Luke Jacobz; Nine Network’s Peter Overton, Richard Wilkins and Georgie Gardner and Network Ten’s Natarsha Belling and Hamish Macdonald. Peter Garrett made a surprise entrance at the end of the day, arriving in time to see Mauboy perform and to thank everyone for coming.

Plenty of celebrities attended at the lunch, including Nikki Phillips, Charlotte Dawson, Kerri-Ann Kennerly, Ben Fordham, Nikki Phillips, Didier Cohen and Karl Stefanovic.

Says Sophie Ryan, chief executive officer, Sony Foundation Australia: “800 guests, six restaurants, 200m of wharf, five live music acts and 11 hosts – the recipe for an amazing day It was also a great example of how people can come together to raise more than half a million dollars for a much-needed cause.

This money goes to Sony Foundation’s ‘You Can’ campaign to help young Australians survive cancer and we’re ecstatic with the result. This money will make a measurable difference to the lives of young Australians with cancer.”

Guests enjoyed a sparkling Pommery reception followed by lunch at some of Sydney’s most celebrated restaurants: Aki’s, China Doll, Manta, Otto Ristorante, Criniti’s and Kingsley’s Steak & Crabhouse. The party continued into the evening at the VodkaO After Party at the Tilbury Hotel.

(1. Richard Wilkins and Peter Garrett; 2. Jessica Mauboy and You Can volunteers; 3. Kerri-Ann and Sally Obermeder; 4.Timomatic; 5. Dane Rumble and Nikki Phillips; 6. James Tobin)