Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity

The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (GOCC, Polish Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy, WOŚP) is the biggest, non-governmental, non-profit, charity organization in Poland.[1][2] The GOCC Foundation holds American Heart Association certification to provide courses in CPR and AED, and for the use of high technology for medical lifesaving. The GOCC aims to support health care in Poland by purchase of state of the art medical equipment for Polish hospitals and clinics and by establishing and running six medical programmes and one educational programme. The foundation supports paediatric and geriatric wards, furnishing them in both complex medical devices such as MRI scanners, and providing long-term care units with anti-bedsore mattresses and beds.[3] Since April 2016 the GOCC ranks on the top of the list as the most trusted public entity according to Brand Asset Valuator and is the second strongest brand in Poland in the ranking compiled by Millward Brown and Young & Rubicam agency.[4] The GOCC foundation organizes the biggest open-air free entry music festival in Europe - Woodstock Festival Poland.[5] The GOCC foundation offers first aid & team-building courses, which are open to all adult members of public. The volunteers who have completed the training become the members of Peace Patrol, whose duties involve stewarding at the festival field, assisting and informing festival goers.

History

The name The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity was coined by Jerzy Owsiak in 1991. The charity has been officially founded in 1993 by Jerzy Owsiak, Lidia Niedźwiedzka-Owsiak, Bohdan Maruszewski, and Piotr Burczyński.[6] The main objective, at that time, was "Protecting Health and Saving Children's Lives by Providing Medical Equipment to Public Hospitals" (as stated in the deed of foundation). During the first Finale (which was organized for the benefit of paediatric cardiac-surgery) in the same year, the Foundation collected a total of USD 1,535,440.68. Subsequently, what was intended to be one-time fundraiser to aid Children's Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw became an annual public fundraiser held across the country. In 2004 the GOCC raised money for the victims of tsunami in Sri Lanka. In 2010, after southern Poland has been struck by flooding a special fundraiser was held in aid of flood relief.

Every year, millions of Poles donate to the Foundation and throughout 24 Grand Finales, the Foundation collected over $130 million for cardiac-surgery, neonatology, paediatric oncology, kidney diseases, congenital disorders, newborns and children under 5 years of age who have been victims of accidents .[7] Since 2013 the GOCC has been raising funds to support geriatric and long-term care units in Poland.[8]

The Grand Finale

The Grand Finale fundraiser takes place on Sunday in January.[9] The day-long public fundraiser is held in Poland and everywhere where there is an active Polish community.[10] The public fundraiser is organised locally, by volunteer-run Collection Centres, and is accompanied by various events such as concerts, sporting competitions, and firework displays. A telethon, broadcast nationally, is held on the day as well.[11] Volunteers, carrying branded collection boxes collect money across the country, and people donating money receive distant red-heart stickers in return.[12] The day culminates with a firework display - known as Light to the Sky, which takes place in front of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw. The funds are being raised during a public money collection, in online auctions,[13][14] and personal and corporate donations.[15]

Each Grand Finale has a concrete medical objective, which is implemented by the foundation after consultations with medical professionals. In order to receive aid from the foundation, the hospitals apply for concrete devices. The equipment is bought by the foundation during an open tender.

Finale Date Fundraiser Aim Funds raised
(in USD) (in 2016 USD)
I January 3, 1993 Children's cardio-surgery 1,535,440.68 2,519,452.65
II January 2, 1994 Neonatology 1,930,726.93 3,087,689.25
III January 8, 1995 Pediatric oncology 2,816,465.36 4,381,236.68
IV January 7, 1996 Rescue of accident victims 2,543,413.59 3,843,992.15
V January 5, 1997 Children's cardio-surgery 3,062,067.29 4,521,373.41
VI January 4, 1998 Rescue of accident victims 3,543,276.74 5,152,870.60
VII January 10, 1999 Neonatology 4,515,020.82 6,424,389.39
VIII January 9, 2000 Children's kidney diseases 6,089,390.91 8,381,590.62
IX January 7, 2001 Newborns and children under 5 y/o 6,112,642.74 8,182,739.00
X January 13, 2002 Congenital defects 6,848,998.85 9,025,979.43
XI January 12, 2003 Newborns and children under 5 y/o 7,695,614.16 9,916,038.29
XII January 11, 2004 Newborns and children under 5 y/o 6,923,443.22 8,688,457.73
XIII January 9, 2005 Progressive methods of diagnostics and treatment in neonatology and pediatrics 9,864,292.87 11,971,947.20
XIV January 8, 2006 Saving lives of children injured in accidents / teaching CPR and first aid 9,660,691.63 11,359,046.96
XV January 14, 2007 Saving lives of children injured in accidents / CPR education 10,276,156.07 11,747,241.16
XVI January 13, 2008 Children with otolaryngological conditions 13,883,627.13 15,284,864.92
XVII January 11, 2009 Prevention and early diagnosis of cancer in children 13,404,441.27 14,809,963.57
XVIII January 10, 2010 Prevention and early diagnosis of cancer in children 14,413,466.03 15,667,193.43
n/a July 4, 2010 Special Finale: "Prevent Flooding!" 805,662.73 875,741.74
XIX January 9, 2011 Urological and kidney diseases 16,499,157.81 17,385,133.30
XX January 8, 2012 The purchase of life-saving equipment for preemies and insulin pumps 16,219,987.60 16,746,625.84
XXI January 13, 2013 Saving the lives of children and providing adequate healthcare for the elderly 16,432,382.15 16,721,122.58
XXII January 12, 2014 Saving the lives of children and providing adequate healthcare for the elderly 17,224,553.53 17,246,344.50
XXIII January 11, 2015 Treatment of children in paediatric and oncology wards and dignified medical treatment of the elderly 14,011,311.90[16] 14,011,311.90
XXIV January 10, 2016 Treatment of children in paediatric and oncology wards and dignified medical treatment of the elderly 18,397,947.76[17] 18,397,947.76
TOTAL: 139,224,941.54 USD
256,350,294.06 in 2016 USD

Medical Programmes

The GOCC Foundation runs four medical programs and one educational programme. The programmes are in action all-year long and are introduced to hospitals and clinics nationwide, because the foundation aims to systematically improve public healthcare in Poland.

Educational Programme

The GOCC runs an educational programme known as 'We Save and Teach How to Save Lives' aimed at teaching children in primary schools the basis of CPR and first aid. Primary schools, which participate in the programme receive free teaching aids and the designated teachers are trained by certified AHA instructors.

References

  1. ↑ "Christmas orchestra charity drive raising millions for healthcare". Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  2. ↑ "XXII Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity". london.mfa.gov.pl. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  3. ↑ "Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity 2016 Wroclaw | www.wroclaw.pl". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  4. ↑ "Ptasie Mleczko, WOŚP i złoty najsilniejszymi markami w Polsce, TVN najwyżej z mediów". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  5. ↑ "Woodstock Festival (Przystanek Woodstock)". www.poland.travel. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  6. ↑ "Polish 'Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity' kicks off despite conservative opposition". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  7. ↑ "'Orchestra' collects millions for kids". Radio Poland. Warsaw: Radio Poland. 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2015-01-10. This year, the main goals were to raise money for equipment on emergency wards for children, as well as to continue last year's bid to create better geriatric care in Poland.
  8. ↑ "Charity 'orchestra' raises millions for kids and elderly". Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  9. ↑ "utopia-500". utopia-500. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  10. ↑ "Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity 2016". www.kair.msz.gov.pl. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  11. ↑ wielkabrytania, praktykant. "London - 22. Finale of The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity". Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  12. ↑ "It's WOŚP Weekend in Poland: Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Finale gets Underway | Inside-poland.com". inside-poland.com. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  13. ↑ "Prime Minister for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity". www.premier.gov.pl. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  14. ↑ "Internet auctions raising money for WOŚP". Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  15. ↑ "Millions raised in annual Polish fundraising bash". Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  16. ↑ "Record donations for WOŚP charity drive". Radio Poland. Warsaw: Radio Poland. 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2015-03-09. Speaking to Polish Radio on Monday morning, WOŚP founder Jurek Owsiak thanked Poles for their generosity, announcing that the exact figure raised amounted to PLN 53,109,172.83.
  17. ↑ "Podczas 24. Finału WOŚP zebraliśmy 72 696 501,53 PLN!" [24. During the Final WOŚP collected 72 696 501.53 PLN!] (Press release). Poland: Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-03-08. The amount declared at the end of 24. Final WOŚP: 44 047 594 PLN during the 24th Final WOŚP collected: 72 696 501.53 PLN including orchestral auctions collected: 4 449 705.66 PLN
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