Woohoo: Ben Quilty, former official artist for the war in Afghanistan, has raised four million for the ‘For Afghanistan’ fund, with the help of tech billionaires Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes who pledged to match funds raised by the public.
Quilty announced the huge number on Saturday, which will help provide live saving on the ground support for those in Afghanistan.
“We just SMASHED ONE MILLION dollars for the @australiaforunhcr !!!!” Quilty wrote on Instagram.
“I am a proud artist. Our one million dollars will now be matched with a further million from @anniecannonbrookes and @mcannonbrookes.
“For 20 years the international community has allowed all Afghan women to dream and now the international community has abandoned them, all.
“The money we have raised will provide tarpaulins, kitchen sets, blankets, food, shelter, water, sanitation kits, cash, mobile health care clinics, psychological care and diplomacy for an unproven and dangerous new government.”
We did it! One Million raised and with the help of @mcannonbrookes we quadrupled that to 4 mil with thanks to @WilsonFound and @scottfarkas . Keep donating! Sky is the limit right now for Afghanistan https://t.co/Me3CnX6gi8
— Ben Quilty (@BenQuilty) August 28, 2021
The Aussie artist had an initial goal of raising $30,000 after the terrorist attack at Kabul airport halted Australia’s rescue mission. However, Cannon-Brookes promised to provide $1 million to the UNHCR cause if the public also raised $1 mill. Well, they did it!!
Other artists also pledged large sums of money to contribute to the fund. Fellow artist, Angus McDonald, raised $60,000 from the sale of a painting.
Kim Jackson, and Karen Wilson of the Wilson Foundation Australia also helped add to that $4 million raised.
There’s still opportunity to donate to Ben Quilty’s fund if you’d like, you can find the link here.
