A proud sponsor of the Gromit Unleashed 2 trail, award-winning law firm VWV yesterday organised a day of fundraising activities tailored to each of the Wallace & Gromit films, raising £700 for the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.
The iconic charity event is seeing 67 original sculptures descend on Bristol from 2 July to 2 September 2018, raising money for the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity and the Special Care Baby Unit at St Michael's Hospital. Gromit Unleashed 2 follows the success of the Gromit Unleashed and Shaun in the City arts trails, which saw two of Aardman’s most loved characters raise over £6 million.
On Wednesday 4 July, VWV staff dropped their usual business trousers and popped on the "wrong trousers" for one day, donating £1 each towards The Grand Appeal. The waterfront based law firm also organised a drawing competition for the little ones, who designed their very own sculpture before a panel of lawyers crowned the best "budding inventors". Finally, after the winners of a "Grand Day Out" raffle were announced, members of the firm's IT team bravely volunteered to have their legs waxed for the fantastic cause!
Highly committed to its corporate social responsibility, the firm plays an active role in the community. For example, last February, 'Partner Pandemonium - A Jungle Challenge' saw seven of its Bristol partners go head-to-head in some gruesome trials, with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House, Bristol.
Since the launch of Gromit Unleashed in 2013, and as part of the previous art trails, VWV has seen Sir Gromit of Bristol take residence in its office at Narrow Quay House, and also sponsored a Shaun - Beach Boy. This year, the firm is sponsoring the sculpture of Long John Wallace, on Cascade Steps.
Helen Haskell, Corporate Partnerships Manager at The Grand Appeal said:
"It was wonderful to see everyone at VWV get behind the Gromit Unleashed 2 trail in support of Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal this week!
VWV have supported the charity for over 20 years and we are thrilled that they have sponsored a sculpture on all 3 of our award winning public arts trails. All money raised from the event will help us to support sick babies and children from across the whole of the South West of England and beyond so huge thanks go to everyone."
Simon Heald, VWV Managing Partner, commented:
"We are so lucky to live in such a wonderfully creative city, and as a Bristol headquartered law firm, we are proud to support a charitable initiative that brings so much to the community.
Raising money to support sick children and their families at Bristol Children’s Hospital is something our staff are truly passionate about. We are delighted to be able to give something back to the Bristol community.”