Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity gathers over EUR 28.1 million
The 29th Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOSP), Poland’s most high-profile charity event, raised nearly PLN 127.5 million (EUR 28.1) despite the Covid lockdown.
This money raised on Sunday will go towards purchasing equipment for children's hospitals.
"It was happy, beautiful and, most importantly, we were together!" WOSP representatives wrote on social media after the Grand Finale.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, traditional grassroots collections were supported by online fundraising to help protect people from infection. Lockdown restrictions also meant that there were no public concerts and performances, which have been a feature of the event since it started.
As part of the annual charity fundraiser, over 100,000 volunteers collected donations across Poland. Money was also raised in countries across the world ranging from Germany to Indonesia.
Last year's Grand Finale, raised PLN 166.13 million (EUR 33.6 million)
to improve diagnostic and therapeutic standards in paediatric interventional medicine.
WOSP's first collection for medical equipment took place in 1993. Over the 29 years of its activity, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity has spent over PLN 1.3 billion (EUR 290.0 million) on medical equipment.
Throughout the year, WOSP buys the equipment via tenders organised by the foundation. Thanks to the foundation's work, many medical centres in Poland have received state-of-the-art equipment that helps save the lives of children. (PAP)
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