Close to 1,500 bartenders across the country will soon be calling themselves U.G.L.Y. and all for a good cause.
They are now being invited to join the Leukaemia Foundation’s tenth year of the U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year competition. To be an U.G.L.Y. Bartender is a beautiful thing – U.G.L.Y. stands for Understanding, Generous, Likeable You, and participants will demonstrate this by holding creative, quirky and compassionate community fundraising events in venues across the nation.
The U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year Competition has raised on average $1.8 million dollars each year over the past decade and is recognised as the largest fundraiser in the Australian hospitality industry.
From quiz nights, live entertainment to family BBQ’s and more, U.G.L.Y. Bartenders will come up with innovative ways to raise funds and ramp-up the fun-factor in their hotels, bars and clubs, all to support the Leukaemia Foundation’s vital accommodation services.
Leukaemia Foundation CEO Bill Petch said over the past nine years funds raised through the iconic campaign have already covered 150,000 nights of accommodation for people and their families, from regional centres across Australia, who are forced to relocate to capital cities for life-saving blood cancer treatment.
“Every day 35 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Sadly, many of these people will need to leave their homes, jobs and local community immediately and relocate to access treatment.”
2017 reigning U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year, Paolo Gabrielloni from Edgewater Dining raised an incredible $37,600 and has already signed up again for 2018. “I love the U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year competition. Our staff and patrons really get behind us and look forward to this time every year”.
On average, each bartender participating raises just over $1,250 equating to two weeks accommodation for a family fighting blood cancer to help relieve their financial burden. The Australian public is urged to support their local U.G.L.Y. Bartenders as they host community events and fundraisers in their local venues in 2018.
The official 2018 competition dates are: Queensland: 1 August to 11 September, 2018; all other states: 1 October to 13 November, 2018.
Registration is now open and participating bartenders have the chance to win prizes and be crowned U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year 2018. This year’s prizes per state include a $3,000 Flight Centre gift card, Hoshizaki Ice Machine or Lancer Beverage System products and services to the value of $7,500.
Find out more and register here.
