The regions accounting and business community has raised more than $27,000 to support education pathways for young people in the Hunter. More than 230 local members of Certified Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA Australia), the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ), the business and accounting community and their guests gathered at City Hall for the 2014 Bean Counters Ball on Friday 7 November.

The Bean Counters Ball has raised more than $67,000 since 2010 which has been donated directly to programs and services provided by Samaritans and the Hunter TAFE Foundation that support students as they work toward careers in business and accounting.

Chairman of the Bean Counters Ball and Hunter CAANZ, Chad Rapsey said with the continued commitment to the event and generous support of sponsors and the community the Bean Counters Ball has been able to increase its support for youth education year upon year. ‘Education has the power to transform lives and communities and that is why the continued support of the business community is so important,’ he said.

This year major support was received from event partners Shaw Gidley, Eight Recruitment, Rapsey Griffiths, Moray & Agnew, OAS Technology Group, TriSuper Auditors and Bottrell Business Consultants. A further 14 local organisations also supported the event.