$6.2 Million Raised at our 2026 Gala Ball

Photo Gallery: For those who attended, here are the photos from the night.

On Saturday night, 600 guests gathered beneath the grand ceilings of Sydney Town Hall for School for Life’s annual Black Tie Gala Ball, raising an extraordinary $6.2 million for children and families in Uganda.

What stayed with many people long after the evening ended was the overwhelming generosity, warmth, and belief shared throughout the room.

There was a deep sense of gratitude, for how far this community has come, for the lives being changed through education, and for the hundreds of people who continue to stand beside School for Life year after year.

A room full of possibility

The evening began in the VIP Lounge, where guests gathered beneath a giant chandelier where Florence Cappler-Shillington played modern classics on the violin while champagne, cocktails, and caviar circulated through the crowd. It felt elegant and celebratory, but there was also a sense that everyone was there for something bigger than themselves.

Across the room the main hall had been transformed in rich African sunset colours, with warm lighting, beautiful floral arrangements, and tables set carefully for the evening ahead.

At every place setting was a photo of a student in need of a scholarship, a reminder of why everyone had come together in the first place.

Hamish Blake returned as MC and brought warmth and humour to the evening, guiding the room through moments of reflection, celebration, and extraordinary generosity.

 It was a remarkable scene.

17 years later

Seventeen years ago, School for Life began with one classroom in a village most people had never heard of. On Saturday night, it was impossible not to reflect on how far School for Life, and the community behind it, has come.

Building futures together

Presenting partner ProForce played an important role throughout the evening, not only in helping bring the event to life, but also in sharing a new initiative focused on creating opportunity through employment and education.

During the night, Blair, ProForce CEO, introduced Launch a Career, Change a Life. A program designed to connect recruitment and training with meaningful social impact through School for Life.

His message was simple: when businesses invest in young people and create pathways into meaningful work, the impact can extend far beyond the workplace.

The room fell silent

The emotional centre of the evening came when School for Life graduate and Changemaker Diana took the stage.

The room fell completely silent.

Through tears, Diana shared the story of her upbringing and the challenges faced by so many women and girls in Uganda. She spoke about the power of education, and how School for Life had given her not only an education, but belief in herself and a pathway forward. 

Now studying law, Diana spoke passionately about her dream to help “change the perception of women in Uganda.”

It was one of those rare moments where an entire room seems to hold its breath at once.

By the end of her speech, there were tears across the ballroom and guests rose to their feet in a standing ovation that seemed to continue long after she left the stage.

Watch Diana’s moving speech.

Later in the evening, Diana and Paddy were reunited on stage with the sponsors who had supported their education journey, another deeply moving reminder that behind every scholarship is a real person, a real future, and a life that can change when somebody chooses to invest in it.

A better world awaits

Our CEO and Founding Director Annabelle Chauncy OAM then shared the vision for the future: the building of Kibumbiro High School and Vocational Training Centre.

Her message throughout the evening was simple but powerful:

“A better world awaits, but only if we choose to build it.”

A night to remember

Throughout the evening, moments of celebration and generosity continued to unfold across the ballroom.

One of the lighter moments came during the Impulsive superyacht raffle draw, when the winner came on stage to collect his prize. Smiling at the crowd, he admitted he never wins anything, a speech that quickly took on a life of its own and briefly stole the show in the best possible way.

Guests also gathered throughout the evening to view this year’s Diamond Raffle prize, a handcrafted 18ct white gold ring featuring a vibrant 3.81ct rubellite tourmaline surrounded by pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds, designed especially for the Gala by Matthew Ely Jewellery. 

Excitement continued to build during the evening’s live auction, where guests bid generously on exclusive experiences and luxury escapes. The collection included a charter aboard Dancing Queen on Sydney Harbour, a Ugandan gorilla safari experience, a luxury stay at Holme Station in New Zealand, a seven-night escape to Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, an exclusive stay at Domic Noosa, a major corporate advertising package, and a five-night Fijian holiday at VOMO Resort.

Laughter, applause, and spirited bidding continued throughout the evening, but some of the most powerful moments came during the live pledges. One by one, guests stood to give generously, united by a shared belief in the future being built through education.

A breathtaking result

The room erupted when the tally reached $3.1 million, with one generous family matching the giving in the room to help lift the final total to $6.2 million.

It was a breathtaking moment.

The funds raised on the night will help support School for Life’s work across Uganda, including the newly funded Kibumbiro High School and Vocational Training Centre, helping more young people access education, skills training, and pathways into meaningful futures.

With Gratitude

This evening would not have been possible without the generosity of our partners and supporters. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Presenting Partner: ProForce.

Wine and Champagne Partner: Penfolds.

Gold Partners: Pickles, Alseasons, The Boleyn Foundation, Pacific Road.

Silver Partners: URM, UBS.

Major Partners: Impulsive, Domic, Matthew Ely, Brightworks, Raw Process Design, Jeffries Printing, The Bespoke Boys, Pernod Ricard, Atomic 212, Diageo.

Cocktail Partner: Nookie.

Styling Partner: Outsourcing Angel.

Media Partners: JCDecaux, Channel 7, QMS, Foxtel Media, Channel 9, oOh! Unmissable, and Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).

 To the many businesses who contributed to our Silent Auction, thank you. With more than 70 prizes generously donated, your support helped bring joy, connection, and opportunity to children and communities in Uganda.

 And thank you to every guest, donor, volunteer, partner, and supporter who helped bring the evening to life.

Looking ahead

What stayed with many people long after the evening ended was a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with generosity, belief, and a shared commitment to education.

Because of this community, more young people in Uganda will have access to classrooms, teachers, vocational training, and opportunities that can help shape the course of their future.

A better world does await and on Saturday night, our community chose to help build it.

View the full photo gallery here.

We can’t wait to welcome you back for next year’s Gala Ball.