The charities we support: Spreading the love (and much-needed funds)!
If you're looking for a way to spread the love this festive season and are on the hunt for a charity or cause, here's a few of the extraordinary organisations that have been nominated by our weekly 'Movers'.
Chief Executive Officer, Next Generation Advisory
Bear Cottage is the charity I support, both personally and through two charities that I am involved with. It's an organisation providing care for very sick children. As a parent of two healthy young boys I can't imagine what it would be like if they got sick.
Non-Executive Director REAT Board, BT Financial Group
The two organisations close to my heart are the Mother's Day Classic and Australia for UNHCR. The Mother's Day Classic has raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research since its inception in 1998 - too many of my friends have suffered from this terrible disease. My involvement with Australia for UNHCR has taught me that even very small things can make an enormous difference to the life of a refugee.
Directors, Industry Moves
The Wayside Chapel and Motivation Australia are organisations that make a practical, meaningful difference to the quality of people's lives. Professionally and personally we've been closely affiliated with both charities over the years as volunteers, fundraisers and employees, and we're delighted to continue this support in every way we can.
Oasis Africa has launched an innovative fundraising concept for Oasis Africa's Scholarship Program . You can play your part in making this a very Merry Christmas for our 2015 Scholarship recipients. We've created 4 puzzles that represent areas where we assist slum-based Secondary School Scholars. Each piece purchased helps us to complete the overall needs of the project.
Portfolio Manager, Folkestone Maxim Asset Management
I am a big supporter of UNHCR and the amazing work that they do to help refugees all around the world. My mother and I fled Vietnam by boat and one thing I remember very clearly were the UNHCR volunteers. They were so helpful and supportive. My sister is actually an ambassador for UNHCR and has written an award-winning book on the Vietnamese Boat People. It's a great cause, and one I am passionate about supporting. For more details view: UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency
Head of Marketing, Fitzpatricks Financial Group
The Sir David Martin Foundation. I had the honour to be Aide-de-Camp to three great Governors of New South Wales while in the Navy, Sir James Rowland, Sir David Martin and Peter Sinclair, great leaders and role models for my life. Just after leaving office, Sir David Martin died of mesothelioma. In the last month of his life he devoted his time and energy to set up a Foundation to get young people off the streets and to provide programs that train and nurture, to give young people in distress the opportunity of reaching their true potential. Programs like Triple Care Farm have had wonderful results. The Sir David Martin Foundation makes a huge difference in the community and I would encourage everyone in our industry to visit the website and consider contributing.
Chief Executive Officer, Impact Investing Australia
Working with underprivileged young people is definitely the space I am most passionate about. In regards to organisations there are many amazing ones I have been fortunate enough to work with. I am on the board of ShareGift Australia and the Sanfilippo Childrens Foundation. I work with the Foundation for Young Australians and I spend time advising and working on ideas with some incredible people at FoodWaterShelter, YGAP and Eli Hayes Healey Foundation.
Director, InvestSense
I would absolutely love to promote my brother who recently embarked on an 18,000 km (yes 18k!) run from Vancouver to Buenos Aires. He's already done around 43 marathons in the last 68 days and just passed through LA so anything I can do to raise awareness of his efforts and the charities he is doing it for would be fantastic. The principal charities are CALM (campaign against living miserably - male depression), Wateraid and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Head of Research, Select Investment Partners
I love walking and the wilderness. It's for this reason one charity I support is WildEndurance, which races 50 or 100km annually in the Blue Mountains to save the wild. I also support Coastrek which holds 55km treks to transform lives, with proceeds going to the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Director - Infrastructure, QIC
- Blue Sphere Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support and production of artistic projects that raise awareness, foster education, and inspire action to address pressing conservation issues in the global marine environment.
- AMK Microfinance Institution, one of Cambodia's leading Microfinance Institutions (MFI) that seeks to improve people's lives by giving them the opportunity to diversify their livelihood options
- Glasswing International, an independent, non-profit organization based in El Salvador with the aim to transform communities in Central America by leveraging and mobilizing human, financial, and material resources from companies, government, and beneficiaries.
- Don Bosco Community Center - Port Chester, which offers multi-lingual youth and adult social/support services to the local community without regard to sex, race, and religion.
Duncan Hodnett Read Q&A
Director of Institutional Business Australia and New Zealand, Eaton Vance Investment Management
I'm originally from Zimbabwe so after each of my two children were born, we sponsored a Zimbabwean child on their behalf through World Vision.
General Manager NSW, NAB Private Wealth
Over the years, my wife and I have been involved in several charities - Cerebal Palsy Alliance, Humpty Dumpty Foundation, Stroke Foundation, JDRF & Bear Cottage.
Chief Executive Officer, DMP Asset Management
The National Breast Cancer Foundation. They do some amazing work and provide support to many in the community.
Chief Investment Officer, Australian Catholic Superannuation
My wife and I like to support many charities as we have been lucky and would like to acknowledge that by 'giving back'. I particularly like to support charities that assist children with illnesses or disabilities and my wife particularly likes World Vision, Guide Dogs Australia and Assistance Dogs Australia as she can combine her love of dogs with a great cause.
Ex-Chief Investment Officer, Australian Catholic Superannuation
I support the Heart Foundation and the Cancer Council.
Executive Director, Implemented Portfolios
As a volunteer with the Beacon Foundation I do strongly encourage other business managers to connect themselves and their people into the hopes and dreams of school children from our less well off communities. The awful socio economic statistics that surround children who leave public schools before year 12 really needs our attention. Furthermore the rewards of spending a bit of time within a structured format to help nurture the ambition and commitment of these Australian young people is significant - for volunteers and students. Find out more at https://beaconfoundation.com.au
Chief Executive Officer, Financial Executives Institute
Our family supports World Vision as a charity. It's easy to forget in Australia how well off we are.
Head of Asset Management, Equity Trustees
I like to support charities that support people who are down and out. That includes The Salvation Army , The Smith Family and St Vincent De Paul .
Exec Manager - Legal, Risk & Compliance, UniSuper
I'd love your readers to think about supporting Guide Dogs . [My wife] and I have a special interest in this organisation as our youngest son receives fantastic support from Guide Dogs for his needs as a vision-impaired student. They are helping him prepare for an adult life as an independent and fully contributing member of our community and we think they do a superb job. But they need our support please!
Head of Research - Fixed Income and Alternatives, SQM Research
Special Olympics - a great organisation that makes a big difference to the lives of people facing daily challenges through disability. A selfless volunteer community that provides support, encouragement and self-esteem through sport.
Principal, Investment and Financial Services Logistics
The Humpty Dumpty Foundation provides much needed equipment for hospitals across Australia and close neighbours. Simply saving kids lives with often the most basic of equipment.
Head of sales, Philo Capital Advisers
I volunteer monthly at a homeless men's shelter in Redfern. It's managed by a great charity called Cana Communities
Joint-Managing Director, netwealth Group
For family reasons we support Juvenile Diabetes and I am about to sign up for Across the bay which raises money for cancer by kite surfing across Port Philip Bay. My brother is in charge of fundraising so if anyone is interested in finding out more please let me know - [email protected]. We have also recently become involved in Impact100 which is a new philanthropic concept where a "Giving circle" raises money and makes $100,000 impact grants to a range of great local causes. It is a great way to really make a difference by pooling resources.
