We are thrilled to have won a prestigious Business & Community Award (BACA) at a gala awards evening held on Friday 13th November – and what a lucky 13th it was!
Representatives and the three original team members of Play2Give, Andrew Baker (founder) together with Dale Harris and Teresa Strike attended the gala event held at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot and were presented with the Best Fundraising Innovation Award by the judge and award sponsor, Didcot Rotary Club’s  Colin Campbell and Mayor of Didcot, Des Healy. We was also given a cash prize of ÂŁ100 towards our good work in the community supporting local charities.
The ceremony on Friday night was attended by 36 shortlisted organisations, local dignitaries and business leaders, and we were delighted to be honoured in front of 220 guests at a sold-out Auditorium. During the glittering ‘Oscars’ style event, exciting local Acts including Didcot Sings Choir, Wantage Silver Band and Didcot Phoenix Taekwondo entertained the audience, in between award presentations.
Andrew, 27, said: “We were really surprised to bag the best fundraising award at this year’s BACAs and we are immensely proud of our achievement on winning this very special gong. This year has been our most successful year of fundraising to date, so to win this award unexpectedly in our best year yet symbolising our commitment to a catalyst of charities is the icing on the cake for Play2Give!”
Andrew added: “We all work incredibly hard each year to raise as much money as we can for our chosen charities and we look forward to another busy and momentous year of fundraising ahead. Winning this award really means a lot to us as volunteers with a real passion. The event was a fantastic night with lots of incredible talent and the great of Didcot’s charitable and business heroes all together in one room!”
Emma East, from Didcot First said: “We are delighted the Judges chose Play2Give to receive a BACAs award, which recognises them for their hard work and dedication to the local community.”
This was the 7th year of the BACAs, organised by Didcot First, and supported by Taylor Wimpey. Individual awards were sponsored by Delicious of Wantage, Didcot Chamber of Commerce, Jennings of Garsington Ltd, Rotary Club of Didcot, Wallingford & District Rotary Club, Â Soha Housing and UTC Oxfordshire.
We would like to say a very big thank you to the BACAs and their Judges for choosing us to win – we are over the moon to have been recognised not just as a shortlisted finalist but as the very best of fundraising winner and we would like to thank all of our very loyal and ever growing supporters who have helped us towards winning this special recognition, and throughout our 8-year history!
