Sydney councillor ‘jailed’ to raise PCYC funds
Image: City of Sydney Councillor Angela Vithoulkas
In scenes to gladden her political rivals, City of Sydney Councillor Angela Vithoulkas was locked behind bars last Friday to raise money for charity.
The councillor-cum-jailbird was put in a makeshift cell to the amusement of lunchtime crowds in the CBD, as part of the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) annual fundraiser, ‘Do Time 4 Kids’.
Onlookers in Martin Place were encouraged to join online sponsors and donate money to bail Ms Vithoulkas out, with funds going towards the City of Sydney PCYC, located in Woolloomooloo.
Ms Vithoulkas was one of several high-profile people ‘jailed’ at the event, with other participants including businessman/reality TV star Mark Bouris and Steve Wills, AKA ‘Commando’ from Channel Ten’s The Biggest Loser.
Over $25,000 was raised for the City of Sydney PCYC club, Australia’s oldest, founded in 1937.
“It was a great day for us with generous community leaders like Angela helping us raise over $25,000, to continue our programs and buy new equipment,” said City of Sydney PCYC club manager Khai Ngo.
“Angela was fantastic – she really got into the spirit of things and was a lot of fun.”
Mr Ngo said the Martin Place event was one of many held around Australia, with hundreds of thousands of dollars raised nationwide.
Final figures were unavailable at press time, but last year the event raised almost $700,000 for PCYC clubs around the country.
Ms Vithoulkas said she was honoured to take part, quipping that her imprisonment would make some people very happy.
“It’s an honour to assist such a good cause and to bring smiles to people’s faces. I think a few people out there would like to see me jailed for real!”
Ms Vithoulkas joked that her brother Con had even offered to double her ‘bail money’ if only she was kept behind bars.
The PCYC is considered one of Australia’s leading youth organisations, with 57 clubs across NSW and approximately 85,000 members.
The organisation aims to develop young people’s life skills and foster leadership, to prevent and reduce crime committed by and against young people.
