Two north-east charities will benefit after a group of Aberdeen businesspeople donated more than £700 as part of an end-of-year fundraising event.
Business development and networking specialist Aberdeen Business Network (ABN), which also runs the 5,400-plus member website ABNCommunity.com, hosted the informal evening at Café Coast on the city’s Beach Boulevard.
Diabetes UK and the Gathimba Edwards Foundation, which supports underprivileged children living in Kenya, will jointly share the proceeds.
Andrew Smith, director of ABN, said: “The evening was the ideal way to round off another successful year for our members with the opportunity for people to network in a fun and relaxed environment. More importantly, we are pleased to have raised funds for these two worthy causes and support the excellent work both continue to do in their respective fields.”
Myles Edwards, founder of the Gathimba Edwards Foundation, said: “I’d like to thank everyone connected to ABN for their efforts in making this event a success. We’ve been overwhelmed with the level of support we have received from both ABN and the wider Aberdeen business community to help us achieve our goals.”
Karen Moore, regional fundraiser at Diabetes UK, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with ABN which has brought benefits for both parties, not least in highlighting the work done by Diabetes UK to support people with the condition across the north-east of Scotland.”
The event, This Is Social Networking!, also featured the 3rd annual ABNCommunity Awards following nominations from within the online business community.
Winners on the night included Phil Anderson of Phil Anderson Financial Services, who received the award for best online member, Rosie O’Hara of Developing Works who won the best forum discussion honour, Karen Moore of Diabetes UK who won the best offline member prize, and Will Shek of IDed who received the special award for brilliant support. In addition, Phil Anderson and Rosie O’Hara shared the best overall member award.
Andrew added: “I would like to pay tribute to all of this year’s award winners who have clearly demonstrated the benefits of taking a reciprocal approach to business; going above and beyond to offer advice and support to other ABN members at every opportunity.”
Aberdeen Business Network provides a series of business development services, training and networking events, in addition to running the 5,400-plus member website ABNCommunity.com.
In 2014, Andrew won the Entrepreneurial Supporter of the Year honour as part of the Grampian Awards for Business Excellence, organised by Enterprise North East Trust. He was also a finalist for the Alick Buchanan-Smith Enterprising Communities honour as part of the rebranded Elevator Awards 2015.
For further information visit www.abncommunity.com