Peter Leemhuis, Alex Leemhuis, Shane Jacobson (MC), Urselina Leemhuis, Darrell Leemhuis at Gears for Giving event. Photos: Screencraft.
Among the rumble of exotic cars converging at the National Arboretum, more than 250 Canberrans recently came together to raise over $200,000 in funds for Canberra charities and community organisations.
Gears for Giving was the first event marking A+P Leemhuis Builders and Asset Construction Hire’s partnership with Hands Across Canberra (HAC).
Third-generation builder Darrell Leemhuis said it was an honour to give back to the community that had given him and his family so much.
“Canberra has been wonderful to my family over the generations, and in honour of all that Canberra has done for us, it was time to give back,” he said.
“Something I do know is that Canberra is one of the most giving communities per capita in Australia, and we just don’t think we need to give here, but we do.”
And give they did.
Luxury and rare vintage cars set the backdrop at the Gears for Giving event staged by A+P Leemhuis Builders and Asset Construction Hire to raise funds for Hands Across Canberra.
Guests purchased 25 tables at the charity event for which Leemhuis had lined up gourmet food, Shane Jacobson as MC, live music from Mushroom Cloud and entertainment from comedian Hamish.
The car-themed event filled the auditorium with Aston Martins, Ferraris and Porches and beautiful vintage vehicles, including a rare 1956 Hudson.
Here, guests were encouraged to “give where they live”, with charitable activities guided by Hands Across Canberra.
This included presenting 20 specific fundable projects from helping kids access PCYC programs to improving the building at Home in Queanbeyan and purchasing equipment for the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre, all of which received a collective $75,000 on the night.
Galilee School, Pegasus – Riding for the disabled and Beryl were awarded $20,000.
Australian actor, entertainer and MC for the night Shane Jacobson (left) chats onstage with Darrell Leemhuis.
HAC CEO Peter Gordon said the night exceeded all expectations.
“We knew as an established and well-respected business in the region, the Leemhuis family had a considerable network to leverage, but because this was the first time the Leemhuis family had organised and promoted an event like this, we were expecting between $100,000 and $200,000,” he said.
“We ended up smashing that goal, and because all the costs were underwritten by the Leemhuis family, all the funds – everything from the raffle, the dinner and so on – every dollar will go towards charity.”
Mr Gordon said the event benchmarked how business leaders could support the community that supports them.
“What the Leemhuis family achieved that night laid down a challenge to all business owners,” he said.
“Most businesses survive because of their great networks. This outcome proves that if you create a conversation around generosity and gratitude, those networks react because motivators have pulled the trigger.
“If everybody did that for the good of our local community, the results would be astronomical.”
A musical interlude in a night of giving.
Mr Gorden added the more than $200,000 raised in just one event would “actually change lives”, and he hoped the event would become a regular feature of the Canberra philanthropic scene.
HAC supports over 360 local community organisations which work with vulnerable people.
Last year HAC contributed and facilitated around $3 million worth of good works in the community and has lofty goals for the future.
“We’re on a substantial growth path,” Mr Gordon said.
“We want to generate a million a month in the next 10 to 20 years.
“Direct contributions from businesses like the Leemhuis family allows us to see the path to that foundation.
“What Darrell and Melinda achieved on 4 November will go into the storybooks of Canberra philanthropy. To deliver such an elaborate event and to get 250 kind people into a room and letting them leave happy to have helped is a tribute to all involved.”
Gears for Giving took place at the National Arboretum.
The benefitting charities and projects on the night were:
ACT Down Syndrome Association Inc.
Canberra PCYC
Cerebral Palsy Alliance
Common Ground Canberra
Doris Women’s Refugee
Epilepsy ACT
Galilee School
Home In Queanbeyan
Mental Illness Education ACT
Miracle Babies Foundation
Pegasus Riding for the Disabled
Perinatal Wellbeing Centre
Print Handicapped Radio of the ACT
Project Independence
Rebus Theatre
Roundabout Canberra
This is My Brave
WaterWombats Aquatic Disability Services
To find out more, visit Hands Across Canberra.
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