The drive, backed by celebrities, got under way in the morning, with fundraising efforts across Poland and a host of other countries with Polish communities, including the United States, Australia and Japan.
The money collected will be used to support pediatric healthcare and to buy modern medical equipment.
This year’s fundraiser is the 30th of its kind. It focuses on helping children with eyesight problems.
By 9 p.m. on Sunday, the total collected stood at over PLN 100 million (around EUR 21.8 million, USD 24.3 million) and the money was expected to continue pouring in, impresario Jerzy Owsiak, the driving force behind the charity effort, told reporters.
Impresario Jerzy Owsiak, the driving force behind the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity effort. PAP/Paweł Supernak
Celebrities and sports stars, including tennis player Iga Świątek, pitched in by putting up personal items for a charity auction.
Last year's effort brought in almost PLN 130 million, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The foundation behind the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity drive says it has raised more than PLN 1.5 billion (EUR 330 million, USD 370 million) in funds for pediatric and elderly healthcare since the effort was launched in 1992.
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Source: IAR, PAP
In an interview with Radio Poland’s Michał Owczarek, professor Bohdan Maruszewski, a pediatric cardiac surgeon and one of the founders of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, gives the highlights of this year’s event and looks back at the last three decades of efforts.
Click on the audio player above to listen.