Entertainment Group celebrates 30 years of fundraising $110 million raised for charities Australia-wide

WORDS: Pippa Jeffries PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

The Entertainment Group, Australia’s pre-eminent site that helps Australians gain access to thousands of amazing offers on premium dining, travel, shopping and entertainment, is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this month. For three decades, the Entertainment Group has created a local community with its Membership program by bringing together Members, Fundraisers, and Merchants and providing value in a way that no one else can.

 

The Entertainment Group App

Fundraising is at the heart of what the organisation does and the business is motivated by the opportunity to help its fundraising partners make a difference. Bringing together more than over 15,000 merchants and raising $110 million for not-for-profit fundraising partners since its inception, the Entertainment Group (formerly known as the Entertainment Book) has been helping Australians to live their lives to the fullest while providing vital contributions to organisations in need.

This month, at the time of marking its 30th anniversary, The Entertainment Group’s $110 million has been raised for over 50,000 fundraisers, with $1million this year alone. Charities, schools, hospitals, rotary and sporting clubs, community groups, as well as research foundations and surf lifesaving clubs are just a few of the entities who receive 20% of the proceeds of every Entertainment Group membership they sell.

Entertainment memberships give patrons the chance to try a number of Australia’s most prestigious and loved establishments. Local dining hot spots include Kiyomi, Miss Moneypenny’s, Palette Restaurant, Yamagen, Taverna and Justin Lane. In travel, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Europcar and Vibe Hotels are just some of the hotels on offer. Entertainment partners include Event Cinemas, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, Palace Theatres, Strike and Hoyts. Discovery is encouraged, and all offers can be sorted across key categories with some very well recognised merchants on offer.

Palette Restaurant, Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast Hospital Foundation, Entertainment Group partner

“We are delighted to mark this momentous milestone of 30 years,” said Heidi Halson, The Entertainment Group’s Founder and CEO. “Entertainment is all about discovery and encouraging people to try new places. We’re often told people find restaurants and experiences they never would have heard about otherwise. Not only are we helping people stretch their budget further, we’re providing sizeable contributions to organisations in need. At a time when average Australians are struggling to pay their bills, we are glad that we can bring together communities to give back.”  

Heidi Halson – CEO Entertainment, Tracy Bevan – Director, McGrath Foundation

Over the past three decades, fundraising partners for The Entertainment Group have included: Cancer Council, The Gold Coast Hospital Foundation, Animal Welfare League, McGrath Foundation, RSPCA, Fred Hollows Foundation, Australian Red Cross, Lifeline, Make-A-Wish, Lifeline, Heart Foundation, Guide Dogs, Australian Red Cross, National Breast Cancer Foundation and thousands more.

The Entertainment Group relaunched in 2018, adding a digital app to its line-up. Australians can now download the offerings that were once available in the hard copy book straight onto their phone.  The Entertainment Book makes every dollar customers spend go further for not only themselves but also their communities – 20% of every membership sold goes to the fundraiser.

“What many people don’t realise is that the hospitality industry really benefits from the business the Entertainment Book brings to them,” says Heidi. “One of the key challenges for the hospitality industry is getting people to dine out more often and the Entertainment Group does just that.”

 

Kelly Malloy, Fundraising & Community Manager at Animal Welfare League Queensland, praised the partnership: “Over the past decade the Entertainment Group has been a loyal and integral part of our community fundraising program here at Animal Welfare League Queensland. The support we have received has not only created much needed funds but has also created an awareness of the work that we do and the animals in our care and are grateful for the difference it has made to our charity and the animals we are helping to rehome.”

 

The Entertainment App offers compelling deals, including 50% off and 2-for-1 offers, providing numerous opportunities for the community to discover more every day. For those who love dining out or are searching for a thoughtful gift, an Entertainment membership is available for $70 and can be purchased here.