Over $3 million raised in one unforgettable night!

On the evening of Saturday 3 May 2025, over 650 beautiful souls gathered at The Venue in Alexandria for a night filled with laughter, generosity, and heartfelt purpose. It was a celebration, yes - but more than that, it was a reminder of what we can achieve when we come together as a community.

Photo Gallery: For those who attended, here are the photo’s from the night.

This was School for Life’s annual Black Tie Gala Ball, and the theme this year - “Rewrite the Stars - A Time to Shine” - spoke straight to the heart. It told us that no child’s future should be defined by poverty or place of birth. That every child deserves a chance to dream, to learn, to thrive.

With open hands and open hearts, we raised over $1.5 million, with one generous family matching every dollar to lift the final total beyond $3 million! That means 4,500 children in East Africa will stay in school for another year. That’s not just a number - that’s prosperity in the making. That’s what it means to give the next generation a real chance.

A night of purpose and possibility

From the moment our guests arrived, there was something in the air - something hopeful, something joyful. This night wasn’t just about dressing up and dancing. It was about standing together for something that matters.

With music that stirred the soul, Top Shelf Live opened the evening and set the tone: celebration with meaning. Hamish Blake, our returning MC, brought his warmth and humour - but also spoke deeply about his trip to Uganda with his family. He reminded us all of the true power of education - how it transforms lives and brings people closer together.

A story that moved the room

One of the most powerful moments of the evening came when Samuel took the stage.

Born in northern Uganda during the height of civil war, Samuel’s childhood was shaped by fear, loss, and displacement. His family fled their home. He studied in makeshift shelters. For two years, he couldn’t afford to go to school. And when he could, he worked construction jobs for $2 a day - just to survive.

But through it all, he held on to one thing, the belief that education could change everything.

“I know exactly what it means to be that child whose future depends on whether or not someone shows up for them and gives them a chance,” he shared. “I’m here standing and speaking before all of you because someone believed in me.”

Samuel now works as our Tertiary Pathways Manager - supporting students as they step into higher education and meaningful work. He walks alongside them with the wisdom of someone who’s lived their struggle and risen above it.

His story reminded us that every child holds a future full of possibility. And when we choose to believe in them, we help rewrite what’s possible.

A vision for the future

Our CEO and Co-Founder, Annabelle Chauncy OAM, delivered a moving keynote that stirred the hearts of everyone present. She asked us to consider the stars written at our birth - and how we might help someone else reach for brighter ones.

“We built schools. We trained teachers. We gave children a seat in the classroom, a book in their hands, and a future worth striving for. So, I put this to you: Is the future of a child in Uganda preordained? Or can we change what is written in their stars?”

Her words reminded us that we are not just guests at a gala - we are builders of a prosperous tomorrow.

The power of education in action

We also shared the story of Cissy, one of our earliest students. Since 2011, she worked hard, stayed focussed, and today, she gives back to her community - not because she must, but because it’s her purpose.

When you educate a girl, you don’t just change her life. You change the life of her village, her family, and her future. It is in education that we find the roots of true prosperity - not just wealth, but wellbeing, resilience, and leadership.

Watch Cissy’s story here.

Unforgettable auction prizes

Excitement filled the room during our Live Auction. Laughter and applause echoed as guests bid on unforgettable experiences - all in the name of giving. Some of the standout prizes included:

  • A luxury stay at Sydney’s Crown Presidential Villa with a $5,000 dining voucher

  • An eight-night safari in Uganda including a visit to School for Life’s schools

  • A Berry retreat with a private dinner by Alex Prichard of Icebergs

  • A True North Kimberley adventure

  • A wellness escape in the Maldives and another in New Zealand

  • A $280,000 corporate advertising package

  • A seven-night escape in South Kensington, London

These weren’t just prizes - they were pathways to impact. Each bid helped light the way for a child to learn and lead.

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. 

Platinum Partner: Hayes Knight.

Gold Partners: Pickles, Alseasons, Nookie, digiDirect Foundation, URM, The Boleyn Foundation.

VIP Partner: ProForce.

Major Supporters: Brightworks, True North, Crown Sydney, Matthew Ely Jewellery, Jeffries Printing, Tequila Herradura, the Bespoke Boys, Archie Rose, Heaps Normal.

Media Partners: JCDecaux, Atomic 212, Channel 7, QMS, ARN Defining Audio, Foxtel Media, Channel 9, oOh! Unmissable, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).

And to the many businesses who gifted items to our Silent Auction - you showed us that giving is contagious. With over 70 prizes generously donated, you helped bring joy, connection, and opportunity to children who need it most.

We also want to honour the volunteers, suppliers, and staff who gave their time, talent, and energy to make this night come alive.

Looking ahead

To every guest who came, every donor who gave, every sponsor who stood shoulder to shoulder with the children in East Africa - thank you. You didn’t just support a cause. You became part of a movement.

Together, we are building futures. Together, we are creating community-led prosperity.

Together, we are rewriting the stars.

View the full photo gallery here

We can’t wait to make more memories with you at next year’s Gala Ball.

Success Stories
Goretti

Sweet and shy Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house in the local village. When Goretti was younger, she moved in with her aunt and uncle because her parents could no longer look after her. She was one of our first students at Katuuso Primary, starting in 2011 when she was just 4 years old. Now, Goretti is in Senior One at Mbazzi High School, and is relishing the honour of being a high school student in her community - something that is taken for granted in Australia, but in Uganda, represents freedom and opportunity. Goretti also loves attending School for Life because she hopes to one day become a pilot in Uganda - a dream which she knows can only be reached with the help of a good education.

Violah

Violah has been at School for Life since since she was six years old. Sadly, Violah has experienced hardship no child should ever deal with. Her Dad passed away three years ago, leaving her Mum without the financial means to support her family - so she left Violah and her siblings with their elderly grandmother. Every day, Violah has to wake up at 5am to fetch water, cook meals and make sure that her younger sisters are properly looked after. Then she walks half an hour to get to school. Despite this adversity, Violah has flourished at school and has made many friends. She loves that School for Life is "helping me to build a future". After finishing school, Violah hopes to become a teacher to help other children.

Umar

Umar is one of our best performing students at Mbazzi Riverside High School - but life has not always been easy for Umar. His father abandoned the family in 2015, leaving his mother to struggle to support her five children on her own. School for Life has provided Umar with opportunities that may never else have eventuated for him. Umar begun his journey with School for Life at Katuuso Primary School, where his academic ability was quickly revealed. Now, he is a thriving member of our Senior 1 class and a formidable wing on the football team. With a love for mathematics, Umar is set on studying electronic engineering after finishing his senior studies - a goal which he is the first to admit is now within reach thanks to the skills and resources provided to him by School for Life.

Rose Nambooze

Rose is a 32‐year‐old single mother of one. She started working with SFL in 2013, after taking part in our tailoring training program. Prior to working with us, she was unemployed and living in her father's home helping to care for her father, who had cataracts, and his farm.
Thanks to her full time employment, Rose was able to save enough money to pay for an eye operation and restore her father's sight, allowing him to return to work as a mechanic. Now, Rose has moved into her own home and no longer relies on her father financially. 

Joseph

Joseph is one of our Special Needs teachers at Katuuso. After surviving a severe case of malaria at age four, he was left permanently deaf. He was raised by his single mother and attended a nursery school for the handicapped and later transferred to a school for the Deaf in Kampala. He eventually mastered sign language and pursued a university degree in education. Joseph decided to become a teacher so that he could give the gift of education to others who are hearing impaired.

Teddy Namatovu

Teddy is a participant in the Kumi Tailoring Program and four of her five children attend Katuuso Primary School. She and her husband farm two acres of land, which supplies fluctuating revenue. Participation in the Kumi Tailoring Project has secured income to reliably pay for school fees, nutritious meals and renovations to the family home. Teddy has gained a great deal of self-esteem from her ability to support her family and she takes pride in independently financing the education of all five children. Teddy has also been working on her numeracy and administration skills. She was appointed Treasurer of the tailoring group and will be responsible for keeping records of their savings.

Flaviah Nassaazi

Flaviah Nassaazi started working at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School in 2011. Prior to cooking at the school, she and her husband were subsistence farmers. They worked tirelessly for small yields and minimal income to support their family. Flaviah's cooking job not only enables her to pay school fees for her children, but she has also invested in a local barbershop business. She is now passing her cooking skills onto her eldest son Frank, who has also joined the school's cooking staff. Flaviah and her husband attend the adult literacy classes offered weekly at the school. Her English and reading have improved immensely, as well as her confidence.

Rachel

In 2010, Rachel began as a cleaner at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School. She was working to save money to study to be a teacher at University. Thanks to Barrie and Simone Goldsmith, her dream of studying came true and she is now fully qualified.