Safe water supplies, hygienic sanitation and good water management are fundamental to global health. Almost one tenth of the global disease burden could be prevented by:
* increasing access to safe drinking water;
* improving sanitation and hygiene; and
* improving water management to reduce risks of water-borne infectious diseases, and accidental drowning during recreation.
Annually, safer water could prevent:
* 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhoea;
* 500 000 deaths from malaria;
* 860 000 child deaths from malnutrition; and
* 280 000 deaths from drowning.
In addition, 5 million people can be protected from being seriously incapacitated from lymphatic filariasis and another 5 million from trachoma.
Recommended measures
Efforts to improve water, sanitation and hygiene interact with each other to boost overall health. Access to sanitation, such as simple latrines in communities, prevents drinking water contamination from human waste and reduces infections. High-tech public health measures are not necessarily the best: frequent hand-washing with soap and safe storage of drinking water are high-impact practices.
Environmental management effectively lowers the rates of malaria and other diseases spread by insects and prevents death. These measures include eliminating habitats - such as standing water - for breeding, and screening doors and windows for protection from mosquitoes.
Economic benefits
Investment to improve drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and water resource management systems makes strong economic sense: every dollar invested leads to up to eight dollars in benefits. US$ 84 billion a year could be regained from the yearly investment of US$ 11.3 billion needed to meet the water and sanitation targets under the Millennium Development Goals.
In addition to the value of saved human lives, other benefits include higher economic productivity, more education, and health-care savings.
Related links
Report: Safter water, better health
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Media Man Australia Profiles
Health
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Smith Family appeals for help - The Courier - 22nd June 2008
The Smith Family, which supports about 550 Ballarat students from 300 families, is falling millions of dollars short of its mid-year appeal target.
With less than a month until the end of the appeal, Australians have donated $1.2 million, significantly short of the not-for-profit's $4.5 million target.
A Smith Family spokeswoman said the organisation had a strong presence in Ballarat, supporting 541 students in the Learning for Life programs.
The programs provide financially disadvantaged students with support through scholarships to assist with education expenses. They also offer students a network of personal development opportunities including access to arts and sporting programs and personal support including monitoring, tutoring and learning clubs.
The Smith Family Learning for Life worker Joan Kennedy said the learning clubs provided students help with any difficulties they were having at school. A Sebastopol Secondary College student who only wanted to be known as Jess, said the program helped her understand her school work.
"I can come here and ask and they (tutors) explain it in another way," Jess said.
The Smith Family acting chief executive officer Paul Henderson encouraged people to spare a thought for low-income families and donate to the appeal, despite it being a tough year for everyone. To make a donation call 1800 326 459 or visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au
Media Man Australia Profiles
The Smith Family
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
With less than a month until the end of the appeal, Australians have donated $1.2 million, significantly short of the not-for-profit's $4.5 million target.
A Smith Family spokeswoman said the organisation had a strong presence in Ballarat, supporting 541 students in the Learning for Life programs.
The programs provide financially disadvantaged students with support through scholarships to assist with education expenses. They also offer students a network of personal development opportunities including access to arts and sporting programs and personal support including monitoring, tutoring and learning clubs.
The Smith Family Learning for Life worker Joan Kennedy said the learning clubs provided students help with any difficulties they were having at school. A Sebastopol Secondary College student who only wanted to be known as Jess, said the program helped her understand her school work.
"I can come here and ask and they (tutors) explain it in another way," Jess said.
The Smith Family acting chief executive officer Paul Henderson encouraged people to spare a thought for low-income families and donate to the appeal, despite it being a tough year for everyone. To make a donation call 1800 326 459 or visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au
Media Man Australia Profiles
The Smith Family
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Tough times hit charities, by Kate Perry - News.com.au - 27th June 2008
# Donations to winter appeals are down for some charities
# Local causes can find it tougher to attract funds
THERE’S increasing competition for the 'donor dollar' among the 700,000 registered charities in Australia as rising rates, petrol and general living costs put the squeeze on hip pockets.
Some major charities are reporting a drop-off in donations during a time when donations are usually flowing in.
The end of the financial year traditionally attracts more money for charities, as donors rush to qualify for tax breaks before the end of the financial year. Waiting until now to donate means you only have a short wait until you get back any deductions.
To be able to claim back any tax on donations, you need to make sure the charity or not-for-profit organisation you’re giving money to is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the tax office. A list of eligible DGR’s can be found on the ATO website.
There are conditions on what you can claim. Donations must be over $2 and you need a receipt. Some gifts to DGRs — such as tickets to a charity dinner or ball — aren't eligible.
Pulling the heart strings
Charity begins at home, according to the old saying. But in reality it’s often the large scale international disasters that get a lot of media play , and it's the high profile incidents which generally prompt Australians to put their hands in their pockets. Ongoing local work tends to be lower profile and can be harder to get people excited about.
A Red Cross spokeswoman said there had been an amazing response to recent appeals launched after the Burma cyclone and earthquake in China. But in terms of the organisation’s annual winter appeal, donations are down and the total collected is expected to fall short of last year.
“At this stage, it’s hard to know exactly why that is, but we’re keen to get the message across that whilst people have been very generous for those two international appeals our work in Australia and with our Asia-Pacific neighbours continues to need support from the public.”
The Smith Family is another not-for-profit organisation doing it tougher this year.
Despite a media blitz earlier this month donations to its annual winter appeal are still down about 10 per cent on the same time last year. This means the group could end up as much as $500,000 short of its $4.5 million fundraising target.
Acting chief executive of the Smith Family, Paul Henderson said the frustrating thing is that in tough times charities are hit with the double whammy of donations slowing down, but demand for their services picking up.
He agreed that international appeals usually get a lot of attention, but urged Australians to look at local needs as well.
“When evaluating the options, let’s not forget about the home front.”
Putting a face – be it human or furry – on a situation can motivate donors. An RSPCA spokeswoman said it’s the newsworthy cases of animal mistreatment that inspire people to dig into their pockets.
“A high profile cruelty case will inspire people to take action, whether that’s action to donate, to adopt an animal from a shelter or to report a suspected case of cruelty in their neighbourhood, she said.
According to a large scale study into the charitable sector conducted a couple of years ago concluded there are three kinds of donors: people who believe strongly in a cause; proactive donors who make regular donations such as through child sponsorship, and reactive donors who respond to tin rattlers in the street.
Where does it go?
Clearly, not every cent you donate is going to make it through to your chosen cause – some will get eaten up with fundraising or administration costs. These can range from charities buying ribbons or raffle prizes, to paying guest speakers for a charity ball, or even employing outside contractors to knock on doors or stand in shopping malls to collect donations.
In Australia it can be difficult to tell how much of your donation is making it through to your chosen cause, and how much is being eaten up by these costs.
A study this year by consumer watchdog Choice found that some systems used by not-for-profits seemed to downplay administration costs, making it seem like a higher portion of donations were reaching the needy.
Some states have rules for cost ratios – or the amount of raised funds that can be put towards covering fundraising activities. In New South Wales the maximum that can go towards covering costs is 40 per cent, and in Victoria registered fundraisers have to donate at least 50 per cent of funds raised or explain where the money’s gone and why.
Choice wants to see a single regulator of the charity sector and a standard reporting system.
"While the charities' accounting methods are quite legal, CHOICE thinks donors have a right to clear, consistent information that enables them to make an informed decision about which charity or charities to support," CHOICE media spokesperson Christopher Zinn said when the study was released.
Charity facts
• Individuals donated about $5.7bn to charity in 2005
• Donations were made by 13.4 million Australians, or 87 per cent of the adult population
• The median donation was $100 per person; the mean was $424 per person
• Religious organisations got the largest number of individual donations - 36.1 per cent; followed by health (14.2 per cent), international aid (13.3 per cent), community/welfare organisations (12.8 per cent), education (6.6 per cent), environment and animal welfare (4.8 per cent), sporting and recreational groups (3.7 per cent) and arts or cultural associations (2.3 per cent). Other not-for-profit sectors make up 6.2 per cent of total donations.
Source: Philanthropy Australia: Giving Australia Report 2006
Reader Comments
There's almost too many worthy causes, however having variety also means that there's a charity for just about everything, especially here in Australia. Just like the corporate word and brands, there's only so much room at the top, and an elite few dominate the news headlines, and the others remain pretty much on struggle street. Via websites like mine, numerous charities can at least share equal space via the new media, however print and TV coverage is what makes the masses aware. The Just Enough Faith situation has helped put accountability of charities under the microscope, and that's a good thing, however there was also PR damage to the philanthropic sector in the process. It's a numbers game, and the numbers are down at the moment. Perhaps this coverage may assist.
Posted by: Greg Tingle of Bondi Beach, Sydney
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
# Local causes can find it tougher to attract funds
THERE’S increasing competition for the 'donor dollar' among the 700,000 registered charities in Australia as rising rates, petrol and general living costs put the squeeze on hip pockets.
Some major charities are reporting a drop-off in donations during a time when donations are usually flowing in.
The end of the financial year traditionally attracts more money for charities, as donors rush to qualify for tax breaks before the end of the financial year. Waiting until now to donate means you only have a short wait until you get back any deductions.
To be able to claim back any tax on donations, you need to make sure the charity or not-for-profit organisation you’re giving money to is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the tax office. A list of eligible DGR’s can be found on the ATO website.
There are conditions on what you can claim. Donations must be over $2 and you need a receipt. Some gifts to DGRs — such as tickets to a charity dinner or ball — aren't eligible.
Pulling the heart strings
Charity begins at home, according to the old saying. But in reality it’s often the large scale international disasters that get a lot of media play , and it's the high profile incidents which generally prompt Australians to put their hands in their pockets. Ongoing local work tends to be lower profile and can be harder to get people excited about.
A Red Cross spokeswoman said there had been an amazing response to recent appeals launched after the Burma cyclone and earthquake in China. But in terms of the organisation’s annual winter appeal, donations are down and the total collected is expected to fall short of last year.
“At this stage, it’s hard to know exactly why that is, but we’re keen to get the message across that whilst people have been very generous for those two international appeals our work in Australia and with our Asia-Pacific neighbours continues to need support from the public.”
The Smith Family is another not-for-profit organisation doing it tougher this year.
Despite a media blitz earlier this month donations to its annual winter appeal are still down about 10 per cent on the same time last year. This means the group could end up as much as $500,000 short of its $4.5 million fundraising target.
Acting chief executive of the Smith Family, Paul Henderson said the frustrating thing is that in tough times charities are hit with the double whammy of donations slowing down, but demand for their services picking up.
He agreed that international appeals usually get a lot of attention, but urged Australians to look at local needs as well.
“When evaluating the options, let’s not forget about the home front.”
Putting a face – be it human or furry – on a situation can motivate donors. An RSPCA spokeswoman said it’s the newsworthy cases of animal mistreatment that inspire people to dig into their pockets.
“A high profile cruelty case will inspire people to take action, whether that’s action to donate, to adopt an animal from a shelter or to report a suspected case of cruelty in their neighbourhood, she said.
According to a large scale study into the charitable sector conducted a couple of years ago concluded there are three kinds of donors: people who believe strongly in a cause; proactive donors who make regular donations such as through child sponsorship, and reactive donors who respond to tin rattlers in the street.
Where does it go?
Clearly, not every cent you donate is going to make it through to your chosen cause – some will get eaten up with fundraising or administration costs. These can range from charities buying ribbons or raffle prizes, to paying guest speakers for a charity ball, or even employing outside contractors to knock on doors or stand in shopping malls to collect donations.
In Australia it can be difficult to tell how much of your donation is making it through to your chosen cause, and how much is being eaten up by these costs.
A study this year by consumer watchdog Choice found that some systems used by not-for-profits seemed to downplay administration costs, making it seem like a higher portion of donations were reaching the needy.
Some states have rules for cost ratios – or the amount of raised funds that can be put towards covering fundraising activities. In New South Wales the maximum that can go towards covering costs is 40 per cent, and in Victoria registered fundraisers have to donate at least 50 per cent of funds raised or explain where the money’s gone and why.
Choice wants to see a single regulator of the charity sector and a standard reporting system.
"While the charities' accounting methods are quite legal, CHOICE thinks donors have a right to clear, consistent information that enables them to make an informed decision about which charity or charities to support," CHOICE media spokesperson Christopher Zinn said when the study was released.
Charity facts
• Individuals donated about $5.7bn to charity in 2005
• Donations were made by 13.4 million Australians, or 87 per cent of the adult population
• The median donation was $100 per person; the mean was $424 per person
• Religious organisations got the largest number of individual donations - 36.1 per cent; followed by health (14.2 per cent), international aid (13.3 per cent), community/welfare organisations (12.8 per cent), education (6.6 per cent), environment and animal welfare (4.8 per cent), sporting and recreational groups (3.7 per cent) and arts or cultural associations (2.3 per cent). Other not-for-profit sectors make up 6.2 per cent of total donations.
Source: Philanthropy Australia: Giving Australia Report 2006
Reader Comments
There's almost too many worthy causes, however having variety also means that there's a charity for just about everything, especially here in Australia. Just like the corporate word and brands, there's only so much room at the top, and an elite few dominate the news headlines, and the others remain pretty much on struggle street. Via websites like mine, numerous charities can at least share equal space via the new media, however print and TV coverage is what makes the masses aware. The Just Enough Faith situation has helped put accountability of charities under the microscope, and that's a good thing, however there was also PR damage to the philanthropic sector in the process. It's a numbers game, and the numbers are down at the moment. Perhaps this coverage may assist.
Posted by: Greg Tingle of Bondi Beach, Sydney
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
What price a moral life?, by Suzy Freeman-Greene - The Age - 21st June 2008
In a world with so much need, why is it that many of Australia's richest are the stingiest when it comes to giving? Surely it is not enough to look after only yourself and your own family.
David Morawetz believes the biggest lottery in life is where you are born. "We are all born and have no choice where or when," he says. "We all die and have no choice where, when or how. To me, that makes us all equal." Surely then, those lucky enough to be raised in relative wealth should do what they can to make the world a fairer place.
Morawetz, a Melbourne psychologist, was struck by this thought when backpacking through India more than 40 years ago. He recalls seeing a baby whose arms had been chopped off so she could beg more effectively. Though not a religious person, he thought: "There but for the grace of God go I."
He became a development economist, later switching to psychology. Then, in 2001 his father died, leaving him far more money than he had ever expected. He decided to use some of this money to tackle injustices. Here was a chance to put his egalitarian beliefs to the test.
Today, Morawetz gives away more than 50% of his taxable income. Through his Morawetz Social Justice Fund (a sub-fund of the Melbourne Community Foundation), grants go to groups building wells in Ethiopia, schooling girls in Nepal and training indigenous leaders in Australia, to name a few. Priorities in developing countries are ensuring safe drinking water and educating women, with the emphasis on long-term solutions. Over four years, he has given away more than $1 million.
Talking about the fund, it's clear that giving makes him, as well as his recipients, happy. "It feels really exciting, it's a real privilege to have these resources and be able to use them in this way," he says. "It gives me 1000 times more pleasure than, say, buying a yacht … I like to have as much as I need, but beyond that I am not interested in accumulating wealth. I am much more interested in what I can do with the money."
But while the "agnostic humanist" Morawetz sees his ability to give as a privilege, many of Australia's other wealthy are giving little, if any, to charity. A study released this year found that 40% of the richest Australians gave minimally or not at all. In the decade to 2005, the income of our top 5% of taxpayers grew 36% in real terms. Yet the amount of taxable income they gave to charity grew from just 0.36% to 0.45%.
"Making substantial donations still constitutes an exception rather than a norm for the wealthy," noted the authors of the Queensland University of Technology report. Indeed most of the affluent give only slightly more as a proportion of their income than poorer folk. (The report defined the wealthy as those with taxable personal incomes of more than $100,000 or assets of more than $1.2 million, apart from the family home.)
Internationally, the comparisons are stark. In 2005-6, Australia's ultra-rich (those with a personal taxable income of $1 million-plus) gave away 1.39% of their income. A recent World Wealth Report estimated the ultra-rich elsewhere were giving between 3% and 11% of taxable income. Those in the Asia-Pacific led the way, donating 11.8% of their total investment portfolios. Next came those in the Middle East (7.7%) and North America (7.6%).
Obviously, some wealthy Australians give extremely generously. But the Queensland findings matched anecdotal evidence. "Most charity collectors will tell you that they always do better when … doorknocking in those suburbs at the bottom of the socio-economic pile," David Thompson, the chairman of the Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations, told ABC radio. "It's far tougher at the other end."
Why is this so? Clearly, there's great need, both here and overseas. In the past decade, Australia has become a more divided society. And worldwide, more than a billion people live on less than $US1 a day. Are the rich here greedier or more self-absorbed than elsewhere or is the picture more complex? And what can be done to encourage more of them to give more?
The good news is that Australians in general compare well to their overseas peers when it comes to private giving. On average, Australians give considerably less than individuals in the US (which has a unique culture of philanthropy) but roughly on par with Britain and Canada, and well ahead of France and Germany. In just seven years, giving by Australians has increased in real terms by 58%. In the most recent year measured (to January 2005), 87% of Australians gave a total of $5.7 billion.
Reasons for giving may include religious motivations, social justice concerns, the tax deductibility of donations or a combination of all three. Giving can also be a way of expressing one's identity and values or connecting with the community. According to the authors of the landmark 2005 study, Giving Australia, giving can be seen as a continuum. At one end there's altruistic giving, which is often anonymous. At the other end, there's giving that is reciprocated through a tangible return to the donor.
Australia has about 20,000 organisations with tax-deductible gift status and about 700,000 non-profit groups. Oxfam's supporter relationships manager Andrew Buchanan says that historically groups have fished from the same pool of donors. To go beyond its traditional audience, Oxfam has needed to think more about its supporters' needs.
Oxfam has about 50,000 donors pledging monthly amounts, mostly to its Aware scheme, which funds long-term development projects around the world. Oxfam also has two "less traditional" fund-raising schemes that are popular: Unwrapped and Trailwalker. Unwrapped donors can buy a "virtual" gift for a friend (such as a pig or a well), with the money funding an overseas aid project. Trailwalker is a sponsored team endurance event. Buchanan says frankly that, for most participants, the primary motivation is the endurance challenge, with fund-raising an important byproduct.
While donations to Oxfam have increased annually for the past five years, it's clear that competition for donor money is stiff. And while private giving has been at record levels, the economic downturn is already affecting some charities. The Smith Family recently issued a press release noting that donations to its mid-year appeal were down by an average of 15%, compared with donations last year. The charity's acting chief executive, Paul Henderson, says the high costs of food, petrol and housing are hurting the "mums and dads" who are its traditional supporters. Other local charities have echoed his concerns, pointing out that as donations plateau or fall, there's a greater need for their services, with more people struggling. At the same time, two big natural disasters in our region — the Burmese cyclone and the Chinese earthquake — have further tested donors' generosity. As taxpayers contemplate the financial end of year and charities tout their mid-year appeals, there's a need for the rich to pitch in more.
"There's an argument that those who have more income and more ability to ride out these times … should maybe be a little more generous," observes academic Dr Wendy Scaife, co-author of the QUT study.
Why aren't our wealthy giving more? A key reason often proffered is that Australia has a culture where governments are expected to do more, unlike the US with its mantra of self-reliance and small government. This may be so, but surely there's nothing to stop us helping elsewhere. Around the world, a child dies every three seconds from a preventable disease, notes Buchanan. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has pledged almost $US30 billion to help eradicate poverty and diseases in developing nations.
And in Australia, says Henderson, the gap between rich and poor has widened. One in seven Australian children now lives in a household without a parent in paid work. When he tells people this figure, he says, they are often staggered. His charity helps kids in poor families by paying for educational costs such as uniforms and books.
Research has found that only one in four dollars donated to non-profit groups is claimed on tax. But Scaife says the wealthy tend to be scrupulous in this area, as most have financial advisers. She stresses it's not that rich people are mean. Rather, there are many who genuinely haven't thought about giving. They may never have been personally challenged by sickness or poverty so lack awareness of these difficulties.
She wants philanthropists to talk more about the joys of giving and thinks the tall-poppy syndrome may inhibit some from doing so for fear of being seen to "big note" themselves.
She speaks also of "psychic poverty": those people who feel they may not be able to afford to give, "when they could probably buy and sell both of us". Some worry they won't be able to maintain their lifestyle. One philanthropist told her of a friend who was concerned he'd need his money when he got older. The philanthropist told him "you could buy four private hospitals with what you've got". She thinks we need to encourage wealthy people to think more rationally about their ability to give.
David Morawetz thinks Australians can be sceptical. Many assume that if they give, the money won't reach its source. He asks three questions of the projects he funds. Does the money get there? Does it make a difference? And is it cost effective? "There are so many magnificent groups out there who are doing work with a resounding 'yes' to these questions," he says.
SEVERAL years ago, he flew to Ethiopia to see a well he'd funded in the village of Hawile-Gazine. Previously, women had walked for three hours a day to collect drinking water from a filthy, stagnant river. Because it was also used as a toilet, children had been dying from diseases such as dysentery. Now, at a cost of just $10,000, about 1000 people would drink clean water. "I believe that we are all brothers and sisters," he told the villagers. "We in Australia have safe drinking water. It is not fair that you in this village did not."
Daniel Petre, a philanthropist and former Microsoft Australia chief executive, has spoken frankly about the need for Australia's rich to give more. "If they gave 10% of their wealth to charity, it would not change their lifestyle at all," he told Business Review Weekly. He has reportedly called on the Government to impose a penalty, such as a death tax, on the ultra-rich who don't give.
Private philanthropy is growing in Australia, but progress is slow. (There are now about 600 prescribed private funds, a tax-effective way of giving large amounts). Some charities say they need to do more to entice the wealthy. The media could also play a role. In our celebrity-obsessed culture, news outlets avoid running too many "downbeat" stories about global poverty or the homeless, for fear of losing readers. Meanwhile, rich people are feted as celebrities themselves. How different would things be if we judged the rich by what they do with their money, rather than how much they have?
Ethicist Peter Singer believes we need to challenge the idea that you can live a morally decent life "just by looking after your own family and not actually causing harm to others". "We need to develop a sense that if we have an abundance, we are actually doing wrong if we don't share it with people who, through no fault of their own, are in the most dire poverty," he has said. Part of the solution, he argues, is to show people how easy it is to make a difference. It would take only a modest proportion of the richest people's wealth to free the world's poorest from shocking poverty.
Singer's is a challenging stance. But in researching this essay I came to realise that I, too, could be doing more to share my relative wealth. The fact is, I don't even notice the $20 a week that is deducted from my pay and given to Oxfam's Aware scheme. And if I'm lucky enough not to notice, then I should be giving more.
Suzy Freeman-Greene is an Age senior writer.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
David Morawetz believes the biggest lottery in life is where you are born. "We are all born and have no choice where or when," he says. "We all die and have no choice where, when or how. To me, that makes us all equal." Surely then, those lucky enough to be raised in relative wealth should do what they can to make the world a fairer place.
Morawetz, a Melbourne psychologist, was struck by this thought when backpacking through India more than 40 years ago. He recalls seeing a baby whose arms had been chopped off so she could beg more effectively. Though not a religious person, he thought: "There but for the grace of God go I."
He became a development economist, later switching to psychology. Then, in 2001 his father died, leaving him far more money than he had ever expected. He decided to use some of this money to tackle injustices. Here was a chance to put his egalitarian beliefs to the test.
Today, Morawetz gives away more than 50% of his taxable income. Through his Morawetz Social Justice Fund (a sub-fund of the Melbourne Community Foundation), grants go to groups building wells in Ethiopia, schooling girls in Nepal and training indigenous leaders in Australia, to name a few. Priorities in developing countries are ensuring safe drinking water and educating women, with the emphasis on long-term solutions. Over four years, he has given away more than $1 million.
Talking about the fund, it's clear that giving makes him, as well as his recipients, happy. "It feels really exciting, it's a real privilege to have these resources and be able to use them in this way," he says. "It gives me 1000 times more pleasure than, say, buying a yacht … I like to have as much as I need, but beyond that I am not interested in accumulating wealth. I am much more interested in what I can do with the money."
But while the "agnostic humanist" Morawetz sees his ability to give as a privilege, many of Australia's other wealthy are giving little, if any, to charity. A study released this year found that 40% of the richest Australians gave minimally or not at all. In the decade to 2005, the income of our top 5% of taxpayers grew 36% in real terms. Yet the amount of taxable income they gave to charity grew from just 0.36% to 0.45%.
"Making substantial donations still constitutes an exception rather than a norm for the wealthy," noted the authors of the Queensland University of Technology report. Indeed most of the affluent give only slightly more as a proportion of their income than poorer folk. (The report defined the wealthy as those with taxable personal incomes of more than $100,000 or assets of more than $1.2 million, apart from the family home.)
Internationally, the comparisons are stark. In 2005-6, Australia's ultra-rich (those with a personal taxable income of $1 million-plus) gave away 1.39% of their income. A recent World Wealth Report estimated the ultra-rich elsewhere were giving between 3% and 11% of taxable income. Those in the Asia-Pacific led the way, donating 11.8% of their total investment portfolios. Next came those in the Middle East (7.7%) and North America (7.6%).
Obviously, some wealthy Australians give extremely generously. But the Queensland findings matched anecdotal evidence. "Most charity collectors will tell you that they always do better when … doorknocking in those suburbs at the bottom of the socio-economic pile," David Thompson, the chairman of the Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations, told ABC radio. "It's far tougher at the other end."
Why is this so? Clearly, there's great need, both here and overseas. In the past decade, Australia has become a more divided society. And worldwide, more than a billion people live on less than $US1 a day. Are the rich here greedier or more self-absorbed than elsewhere or is the picture more complex? And what can be done to encourage more of them to give more?
The good news is that Australians in general compare well to their overseas peers when it comes to private giving. On average, Australians give considerably less than individuals in the US (which has a unique culture of philanthropy) but roughly on par with Britain and Canada, and well ahead of France and Germany. In just seven years, giving by Australians has increased in real terms by 58%. In the most recent year measured (to January 2005), 87% of Australians gave a total of $5.7 billion.
Reasons for giving may include religious motivations, social justice concerns, the tax deductibility of donations or a combination of all three. Giving can also be a way of expressing one's identity and values or connecting with the community. According to the authors of the landmark 2005 study, Giving Australia, giving can be seen as a continuum. At one end there's altruistic giving, which is often anonymous. At the other end, there's giving that is reciprocated through a tangible return to the donor.
Australia has about 20,000 organisations with tax-deductible gift status and about 700,000 non-profit groups. Oxfam's supporter relationships manager Andrew Buchanan says that historically groups have fished from the same pool of donors. To go beyond its traditional audience, Oxfam has needed to think more about its supporters' needs.
Oxfam has about 50,000 donors pledging monthly amounts, mostly to its Aware scheme, which funds long-term development projects around the world. Oxfam also has two "less traditional" fund-raising schemes that are popular: Unwrapped and Trailwalker. Unwrapped donors can buy a "virtual" gift for a friend (such as a pig or a well), with the money funding an overseas aid project. Trailwalker is a sponsored team endurance event. Buchanan says frankly that, for most participants, the primary motivation is the endurance challenge, with fund-raising an important byproduct.
While donations to Oxfam have increased annually for the past five years, it's clear that competition for donor money is stiff. And while private giving has been at record levels, the economic downturn is already affecting some charities. The Smith Family recently issued a press release noting that donations to its mid-year appeal were down by an average of 15%, compared with donations last year. The charity's acting chief executive, Paul Henderson, says the high costs of food, petrol and housing are hurting the "mums and dads" who are its traditional supporters. Other local charities have echoed his concerns, pointing out that as donations plateau or fall, there's a greater need for their services, with more people struggling. At the same time, two big natural disasters in our region — the Burmese cyclone and the Chinese earthquake — have further tested donors' generosity. As taxpayers contemplate the financial end of year and charities tout their mid-year appeals, there's a need for the rich to pitch in more.
"There's an argument that those who have more income and more ability to ride out these times … should maybe be a little more generous," observes academic Dr Wendy Scaife, co-author of the QUT study.
Why aren't our wealthy giving more? A key reason often proffered is that Australia has a culture where governments are expected to do more, unlike the US with its mantra of self-reliance and small government. This may be so, but surely there's nothing to stop us helping elsewhere. Around the world, a child dies every three seconds from a preventable disease, notes Buchanan. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has pledged almost $US30 billion to help eradicate poverty and diseases in developing nations.
And in Australia, says Henderson, the gap between rich and poor has widened. One in seven Australian children now lives in a household without a parent in paid work. When he tells people this figure, he says, they are often staggered. His charity helps kids in poor families by paying for educational costs such as uniforms and books.
Research has found that only one in four dollars donated to non-profit groups is claimed on tax. But Scaife says the wealthy tend to be scrupulous in this area, as most have financial advisers. She stresses it's not that rich people are mean. Rather, there are many who genuinely haven't thought about giving. They may never have been personally challenged by sickness or poverty so lack awareness of these difficulties.
She wants philanthropists to talk more about the joys of giving and thinks the tall-poppy syndrome may inhibit some from doing so for fear of being seen to "big note" themselves.
She speaks also of "psychic poverty": those people who feel they may not be able to afford to give, "when they could probably buy and sell both of us". Some worry they won't be able to maintain their lifestyle. One philanthropist told her of a friend who was concerned he'd need his money when he got older. The philanthropist told him "you could buy four private hospitals with what you've got". She thinks we need to encourage wealthy people to think more rationally about their ability to give.
David Morawetz thinks Australians can be sceptical. Many assume that if they give, the money won't reach its source. He asks three questions of the projects he funds. Does the money get there? Does it make a difference? And is it cost effective? "There are so many magnificent groups out there who are doing work with a resounding 'yes' to these questions," he says.
SEVERAL years ago, he flew to Ethiopia to see a well he'd funded in the village of Hawile-Gazine. Previously, women had walked for three hours a day to collect drinking water from a filthy, stagnant river. Because it was also used as a toilet, children had been dying from diseases such as dysentery. Now, at a cost of just $10,000, about 1000 people would drink clean water. "I believe that we are all brothers and sisters," he told the villagers. "We in Australia have safe drinking water. It is not fair that you in this village did not."
Daniel Petre, a philanthropist and former Microsoft Australia chief executive, has spoken frankly about the need for Australia's rich to give more. "If they gave 10% of their wealth to charity, it would not change their lifestyle at all," he told Business Review Weekly. He has reportedly called on the Government to impose a penalty, such as a death tax, on the ultra-rich who don't give.
Private philanthropy is growing in Australia, but progress is slow. (There are now about 600 prescribed private funds, a tax-effective way of giving large amounts). Some charities say they need to do more to entice the wealthy. The media could also play a role. In our celebrity-obsessed culture, news outlets avoid running too many "downbeat" stories about global poverty or the homeless, for fear of losing readers. Meanwhile, rich people are feted as celebrities themselves. How different would things be if we judged the rich by what they do with their money, rather than how much they have?
Ethicist Peter Singer believes we need to challenge the idea that you can live a morally decent life "just by looking after your own family and not actually causing harm to others". "We need to develop a sense that if we have an abundance, we are actually doing wrong if we don't share it with people who, through no fault of their own, are in the most dire poverty," he has said. Part of the solution, he argues, is to show people how easy it is to make a difference. It would take only a modest proportion of the richest people's wealth to free the world's poorest from shocking poverty.
Singer's is a challenging stance. But in researching this essay I came to realise that I, too, could be doing more to share my relative wealth. The fact is, I don't even notice the $20 a week that is deducted from my pay and given to Oxfam's Aware scheme. And if I'm lucky enough not to notice, then I should be giving more.
Suzy Freeman-Greene is an Age senior writer.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Charities in luck as brokers go for broke at casino, by Marcus Padley - The Age - 28th June 2008
Went to the 15th annual Australian Stockbrokers Foundation Awards night last week. A charitable affair. Into the valley of the shadow of the Star City casino rode the 600 (stockbrokers). A lethal combination of bull, bear, Crown Lager, De Bortoli wines and a dance floor.
Mixed in with the awards were some notable displays of charity and a Calcutta stock auction. This involved auctioning eight stocks. The idea was to buy the stock that would perform the best in the next 12 months. Fortescue won last year's Calcutta and Southern Cross Equities promptly re-donated its winnings. The most sought after of the eight was Gindalbie Metals, which fetched a hard-fought $36,000, closely followed by Karoon Gas ($35,000), Sunshine Gas, Nexus, Equinox, Pan Australian, Aquarius Platinum and, bargain of the night, Paladin at $10,000. Total raised $145,000. It seems the broking community has spoken. Resources are the only game in town, with iron ore the obvious play and coal bed methane close behind.
We moved on to the award for Corporate Deal of the Year. A lot to get stuck into here:
■The Marginbet IPO. Raised $2 million for online wagering in September. It was suspended a month later for failing to lodge its accounts and switched to gold exploration in December. Suspended from official quotation six months after listing.
■Bushveld Platinum. Raised $3 million a year ago to explore for platinum in South Africa. Six months later bought a motor vehicle leasing finance business that specialised in extending credit to "people without a credit history or with credit problems". Suspended from official quotation in February.
■In the past year, 70% of IPOs and placements are now trading below their issue or placement price. Just in case you thought IPOs were money for nothing. Worst was Rams Home Loans. Lost 97%.
■On the flip side, the best IPOs or placements were in Linc Energy, up 440%, Coal of Africa, up 166%, Cockatoo Coal, up 166%, Fortescue, up 164%, and Atlas Iron, up 132%.
We also had awards for the Best Operator of the Year. This is heavily contested by the boys and girls that input orders into the market through the ASX ITS computer terminals. Names have been excluded to protect the guilty, which included one operator whose fat fingers dropped the Orica share price from $31.70 to 8.6¢ in one trade, and another who dropped a listed debt security from $94.50 to $3.67, putting it momentarily on a 96.33% yield. Never a dull moment. (All trades cancelled by the ASX).
Research of the Year saw inspired and pitiful luck, particularly in the timing of ABC Learning and Allco Finance Group "buy" recommendations. This included one broker who initiated coverage of Allco with a "buy" recommendation at $9.50, only to later suspend coverage at 47¢, and one broker who removed the "bid premium" from his St George Bank valuation and moved to "underperform" three days before Westpac bid for them.
It all went to reinforce a few established sharemarket principles, including:
■You are only as good as your last recommendation.
■It is always worth sitting on the bid.
■If it looks too good to be true, it is.
■Anything that yields more than 10% in the equity market, probably doesn't.
■If an IPO is any good, you won't be offered it.
■If you get offered an IPO, you don't want it.
■A liar may disappoint you but a product disclosure statement may cost you money.
■You can only lose 100% in the wrong stock. But you can make 440% in the right stock.
And, of course, the unwritten truth about the whole sharemarket, that it is founded on the richest of tapestries, the unknown. Is there any better way to spend the day than in an industry whose core activity is shaping, facilitating, guessing and investing in a future that hasn't been made yet?
Thanks to Danny Dreyfus for his organisation of the Stockbrokers Foundation Awards night and the attending stockbrokers who raised more than $450,000 for charity (a record) and have raised over
$5 million for worthwhile causes (www.stockbrokersfoundation.org.au). Thanks also for creating the colour behind this article.
Marcus Padley is a stockbroker with Patersons Securities and the author of the daily sharemarket newsletter Marcus Today. For a free trial, go to www.marcustoday.com.au
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Mixed in with the awards were some notable displays of charity and a Calcutta stock auction. This involved auctioning eight stocks. The idea was to buy the stock that would perform the best in the next 12 months. Fortescue won last year's Calcutta and Southern Cross Equities promptly re-donated its winnings. The most sought after of the eight was Gindalbie Metals, which fetched a hard-fought $36,000, closely followed by Karoon Gas ($35,000), Sunshine Gas, Nexus, Equinox, Pan Australian, Aquarius Platinum and, bargain of the night, Paladin at $10,000. Total raised $145,000. It seems the broking community has spoken. Resources are the only game in town, with iron ore the obvious play and coal bed methane close behind.
We moved on to the award for Corporate Deal of the Year. A lot to get stuck into here:
■The Marginbet IPO. Raised $2 million for online wagering in September. It was suspended a month later for failing to lodge its accounts and switched to gold exploration in December. Suspended from official quotation six months after listing.
■Bushveld Platinum. Raised $3 million a year ago to explore for platinum in South Africa. Six months later bought a motor vehicle leasing finance business that specialised in extending credit to "people without a credit history or with credit problems". Suspended from official quotation in February.
■In the past year, 70% of IPOs and placements are now trading below their issue or placement price. Just in case you thought IPOs were money for nothing. Worst was Rams Home Loans. Lost 97%.
■On the flip side, the best IPOs or placements were in Linc Energy, up 440%, Coal of Africa, up 166%, Cockatoo Coal, up 166%, Fortescue, up 164%, and Atlas Iron, up 132%.
We also had awards for the Best Operator of the Year. This is heavily contested by the boys and girls that input orders into the market through the ASX ITS computer terminals. Names have been excluded to protect the guilty, which included one operator whose fat fingers dropped the Orica share price from $31.70 to 8.6¢ in one trade, and another who dropped a listed debt security from $94.50 to $3.67, putting it momentarily on a 96.33% yield. Never a dull moment. (All trades cancelled by the ASX).
Research of the Year saw inspired and pitiful luck, particularly in the timing of ABC Learning and Allco Finance Group "buy" recommendations. This included one broker who initiated coverage of Allco with a "buy" recommendation at $9.50, only to later suspend coverage at 47¢, and one broker who removed the "bid premium" from his St George Bank valuation and moved to "underperform" three days before Westpac bid for them.
It all went to reinforce a few established sharemarket principles, including:
■You are only as good as your last recommendation.
■It is always worth sitting on the bid.
■If it looks too good to be true, it is.
■Anything that yields more than 10% in the equity market, probably doesn't.
■If an IPO is any good, you won't be offered it.
■If you get offered an IPO, you don't want it.
■A liar may disappoint you but a product disclosure statement may cost you money.
■You can only lose 100% in the wrong stock. But you can make 440% in the right stock.
And, of course, the unwritten truth about the whole sharemarket, that it is founded on the richest of tapestries, the unknown. Is there any better way to spend the day than in an industry whose core activity is shaping, facilitating, guessing and investing in a future that hasn't been made yet?
Thanks to Danny Dreyfus for his organisation of the Stockbrokers Foundation Awards night and the attending stockbrokers who raised more than $450,000 for charity (a record) and have raised over
$5 million for worthwhile causes (www.stockbrokersfoundation.org.au). Thanks also for creating the colour behind this article.
Marcus Padley is a stockbroker with Patersons Securities and the author of the daily sharemarket newsletter Marcus Today. For a free trial, go to www.marcustoday.com.au
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Pitt, Jolie donate 1 mln US dollars to war children fund - The Age - 26th June 2008
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated one million US dollars to support the education of 8,000 children in Iraq and the United States affected by war, a charity said Wednesday.
The iconic Hollywood couple made the donation to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict via their charity, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.
A statement from the Education Partnership said the money would be split evenly between US and Iraq non-profit groups who seek to provide education and support for children who have lost parents, homes or schooling opportunities.
"These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal," Jolie, who has visited Iraq twice in the past year, said in a statement.
Pitt added: "We hope to encourage others to give to these great organisations."
Pitt and Jolie have given millions to charities in recent years according to tax records. In March it emerged the actors had funneled more than four million US dollars each to their foundation, which was set up in 2006 to aid humanitarian causes around the world.
Pitt, 44, and Jolie, 33, are currently reported to be in France ahead of the birth of twins. Pitt and Jolie met on the set of their 2005 film "Mr and Mrs Smith" and later began a romantic relationship.
Pitt was previously married to "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston, while Jolie has been married twice before.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
The iconic Hollywood couple made the donation to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict via their charity, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.
A statement from the Education Partnership said the money would be split evenly between US and Iraq non-profit groups who seek to provide education and support for children who have lost parents, homes or schooling opportunities.
"These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal," Jolie, who has visited Iraq twice in the past year, said in a statement.
Pitt added: "We hope to encourage others to give to these great organisations."
Pitt and Jolie have given millions to charities in recent years according to tax records. In March it emerged the actors had funneled more than four million US dollars each to their foundation, which was set up in 2006 to aid humanitarian causes around the world.
Pitt, 44, and Jolie, 33, are currently reported to be in France ahead of the birth of twins. Pitt and Jolie met on the set of their 2005 film "Mr and Mrs Smith" and later began a romantic relationship.
Pitt was previously married to "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston, while Jolie has been married twice before.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
How charity began in a scrum for legend Gary, by Tina Miles, Liverpool Echo - 28th June 2008
Rugby league legend Garry Schofield joined a team of workers from Merseyside for annual tournament in aid of charity.
The ex-Great Britain star played alongside a seven-strong team of Knowsley-based Virgin Media staff to help them get their hands on the winner’s trophy.
He also donated rugby memorabilia for a charity raffle which followed the Virgin Media rugby sevens tournament.
Staff from 15 offices across the country travelled to Nottingham rugby club to help raise money for the Foyer Federation, which supports disadvantaged 16-25-year-olds.
Knowsley team captain Andy Leach said: “To compete with a real rugby legend like Garry was an honour.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
The ex-Great Britain star played alongside a seven-strong team of Knowsley-based Virgin Media staff to help them get their hands on the winner’s trophy.
He also donated rugby memorabilia for a charity raffle which followed the Virgin Media rugby sevens tournament.
Staff from 15 offices across the country travelled to Nottingham rugby club to help raise money for the Foyer Federation, which supports disadvantaged 16-25-year-olds.
Knowsley team captain Andy Leach said: “To compete with a real rugby legend like Garry was an honour.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Generation Give - Voyeur Magazine - May 2007
By volunteering time, effort and money to their chosen causes generation Y has made charity cool. by Chris Sheedy.
Charities used to be all about the elderly – after all, who else had time to create a new business to help others when they were too busy creating a living for themselves? But with Generation Y’s need to feel they’re making a difference in the world they have brought new meaning to the word ‘charity’. In fact, many are more than happy to dedicate their entire careers to helping others.
STAR SUPPORT
On the night of the NSW state election in March this year, 650 celebrities, media personalities and socialites gathered at a black-tie ball at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, but the party they were attending had nothing to do with politics. As Morris Iemma and Peter Debnam were jostling for the position of state premier, these glammed-up party people had come together in the name of charity and would raise over $300,000 for juvenile diabetes and meningococcal research.
Celebrities at the ball included Megan Gale, Peter Morrissey, Sophie Falkiner, Jackie O, Mink Sadowsky, Adam Spencer and Laura Csortan. The ball itself, organised by Kids For Life, represented the efforts of a core group of young professionals who decided several years ago that it was high time they gave a little back to the community.
“In 2002, Nathan Davis, a friend of mine, rang me and said he wanted to organise a Las Vegas-style gambling night and wanted all of the proceeds to go to charity,” recalls 32-year-old Kate Dixon, vice chairman of Kids For Life. “I said I knew plenty of charities but because of their policies they wouldn’t accept gambling proceeds. A few days later he rang back and said, ‘What about a black-tie ball?’ So we got a group of people together to organise it.”
Davis’s main drive, he says, was the fact that he and his friends had great incomes but were blowing their money on all the wrong things. “I wanted to put the money we were spending towards something decent for a change, rather than towards restaurants, luxury goods, sporting venues and nightclub owners in the eastern suburbs,” explains the 31-year-old banker.
“This way, we get all our friends to come along to a ball once a year, learn about how they can help prevent these terrible diseases, contribute to the night’s success and, in doing so, help fund these great kids’ organisations.”
As a result of his inspiration, over the past four years Kids For Life has raised over $1 million for their chosen causes, which has included money put towards research and the purchase of expensive machinery for cash-strapped public hospitals. Rather than giving money to the hospitals’ fundraising committees, the Kids For Life team went straight to the coalface and asked doctorsand nurses what they needed.
“They named all this equipment they couldn’t afford, like a blood gas machine,” says Dixon. “They gave us a shopping list – a wish-list – and we went out and bought a piece of equipment or two for each of the three hospitals we’d met with.”
Being a part of the Kids For Life committee is challenging but massively satisfying, says Dixon. She describes the feeling as “phenomenal”, seeing how much the sick children suffer then realising how the Kids For Life money helps ease the suffering, even if only a little.
“It’s cool to be part of a cause,” says Dixon. “The problem is that a lot of people do it for the wrong reasons. If being a part of a charity becomes popular I want it to be for the right reason – not because you want to put on a ball, but because you want to help a cause.”
THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY
While other boys his age were dreaming of being astronauts, professional surfers, or commandos, when he was only 14 Jonathan Nicholas knew he wanted to do a job where he was helping others. The youngster was particularly aware of the problems caused by mental illness since his father is a clinical psychologist. So when he found work at Inspire Foundation, a charity whose main aim was to use technology to help young people to help themselves and others, he knew he’d be staying for a while.
A decade later, the 31-year-old is still working with Inspire Foundation and is now the charity’s director of programs. It’s three web-based services – www.reachout.com.au, www.actnow.com.au (a V Festival partner) and www.beanbag.com.au – are designed to reach, assist and educate young people by exploiting technology the users are familiar with. The sites’ purposes are to help young people through tough times and mental illnesses such as depression, and to educate them about current issues like the water crisis.
“I’ve always loved the work that Inspire does and have always been really excited by the ways you can use technology to improve people’s lives,” says Nicholas. “My job and my teams are really about what goes on the websites and how we can continue to improve the services we offer.”
Nicholas says that while people don’t enter his industry for the money, it’s incorrect to assume that those who work in the not-for-profit field are lowly paid. He may not have the breadth of the financial benefits offered to somebody in the private industry, but Nicholas says not-for-profits are paying the right money for the right people.
However, the private, for-profit sector could never offer the immense satisfaction that Nicholas experiences on a daily basis on a number of levels. “You’ve got more opportunities working in the not-for-profit sector to engage in the real world,” explains Nicholas. “Part of that is the great privilege of hearing what’s important to people rather than trying to sell them a product – I find people’s lives endlessly fascinating. You also get an opportunity to help people and to be of service, which is great.”
Working at the coalface allows Nicholas to receive first-hand feedback from his public. He regularly hears from young people who have been able to use his websites to learn more about a particular issue and as a result have taken action in their own lives to help resolve the issue, as well as those who have overcome a possibly debilitating mental illness. It’s this feedback that constantly amazes him and the fact that he can use technology to help people help themselves, he says, is thrilling.
“I’ve had some really amazing opportunities to do some amazing things and work with amazing people. I don’t know if I could ever give this up.”
A BEAUTIFUL NATION
Every worker has a different motivation for the job they do. For many it’s money, for some it’s power, for others prestige. In the case of 26-year-old Peter McLean, NSW programs director at Keep Australia Beautiful, it’s all about having a close connection to the community, and being able to make a positive change on the environment in an age when too many people simply talk about it.
“An expensive company car and a corner office with a view certainly don’t feature high on my list,” smiles McLean, who has worked for Keep Australia Beautiful for three years. “Some of my friends who work for large corporates have a very different list of priorities, but they sometimes hate the idea of going to work. To me, being able to enjoy and feel challenged by my job is an important factor.”
McLean’s area of responsibility covers aspects of public relations, strategic planning, project management and sponsorship relations. It also involves a lot of travel around New South Wales to meet and work with volunteers and to check out new innovations in the battle to save the environment town by town. The opportunity to become proficient in various areas of business, he says, is one of the perks of working for a smaller organisation where staff are not pigeon-holed into a specific job.
Already possessing a degree in environmental management, McLean is now enrolled in a part-time MBA course, further enhancing his already broad knowledge of business affairs. But back in the office it’s the fact his work makes a direct and valuable impact that keeps the satisfaction levels high.
“I love being involved, actively seeing a positive change across the NSW environment,” he says. “I love watching environmental projects come to fruition and seeing the creativeness and innovation of some of the rural communities.
“Keep Australia Beautiful offers them recognition and support as well as resources for their projects. The Tidy Towns Awards give them something to look forward to and work towards every year. Without the people and drive there might be no trees planted, no litter picked up and no visitor infrastructure.”
Across various state offices of Keep Australia Beautiful, McLean estimates at least half of the staff are under the age of 30, indicating an enormous shift of the younger generation towards non-government organisations and charities that are making a difference.
“Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t go for everyone below a certain age,” explains McLean. “In fact, sometimes it feels like it can be quite a unique motivator. I have even been labelled a ‘greenie’ once or twice by my friends, but I actually see myself as an environmental realist. I help to promote easy ways to look after the environment and I can see through that there’s a big difference being made.”
CORPORATE GIVING
Recognising the need for staff to see that their company is making a difference, nearly three years ago the Virgin group set up an independent charity arm called Virgin Unite, its aim being to challenge the way social and business sectors work together.
Connecting the donations, time and expertise of the thousands of Virgin staff, Virgin Unite identifies charitable organisations that make a difference often at a grassroots level, and sets up sustainable relationships. Virgin Unite helps Virgin brands and businesses connect with charitable organisations in order to become a true partner, becoming a part of the change process rather than simply making donations.
Virgin Unite Australia brokered the valuable affiliation between Inspire Foundation’s ActNow and V Festival, and has set up relationships with other local charities including South Sydney Youth Services and Stretch-A-Family. Virgin Unite also operates in North America, UK, Europe and South Africa. (Credit: Voyeur Magazine)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Unite
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Charities used to be all about the elderly – after all, who else had time to create a new business to help others when they were too busy creating a living for themselves? But with Generation Y’s need to feel they’re making a difference in the world they have brought new meaning to the word ‘charity’. In fact, many are more than happy to dedicate their entire careers to helping others.
STAR SUPPORT
On the night of the NSW state election in March this year, 650 celebrities, media personalities and socialites gathered at a black-tie ball at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, but the party they were attending had nothing to do with politics. As Morris Iemma and Peter Debnam were jostling for the position of state premier, these glammed-up party people had come together in the name of charity and would raise over $300,000 for juvenile diabetes and meningococcal research.
Celebrities at the ball included Megan Gale, Peter Morrissey, Sophie Falkiner, Jackie O, Mink Sadowsky, Adam Spencer and Laura Csortan. The ball itself, organised by Kids For Life, represented the efforts of a core group of young professionals who decided several years ago that it was high time they gave a little back to the community.
“In 2002, Nathan Davis, a friend of mine, rang me and said he wanted to organise a Las Vegas-style gambling night and wanted all of the proceeds to go to charity,” recalls 32-year-old Kate Dixon, vice chairman of Kids For Life. “I said I knew plenty of charities but because of their policies they wouldn’t accept gambling proceeds. A few days later he rang back and said, ‘What about a black-tie ball?’ So we got a group of people together to organise it.”
Davis’s main drive, he says, was the fact that he and his friends had great incomes but were blowing their money on all the wrong things. “I wanted to put the money we were spending towards something decent for a change, rather than towards restaurants, luxury goods, sporting venues and nightclub owners in the eastern suburbs,” explains the 31-year-old banker.
“This way, we get all our friends to come along to a ball once a year, learn about how they can help prevent these terrible diseases, contribute to the night’s success and, in doing so, help fund these great kids’ organisations.”
As a result of his inspiration, over the past four years Kids For Life has raised over $1 million for their chosen causes, which has included money put towards research and the purchase of expensive machinery for cash-strapped public hospitals. Rather than giving money to the hospitals’ fundraising committees, the Kids For Life team went straight to the coalface and asked doctorsand nurses what they needed.
“They named all this equipment they couldn’t afford, like a blood gas machine,” says Dixon. “They gave us a shopping list – a wish-list – and we went out and bought a piece of equipment or two for each of the three hospitals we’d met with.”
Being a part of the Kids For Life committee is challenging but massively satisfying, says Dixon. She describes the feeling as “phenomenal”, seeing how much the sick children suffer then realising how the Kids For Life money helps ease the suffering, even if only a little.
“It’s cool to be part of a cause,” says Dixon. “The problem is that a lot of people do it for the wrong reasons. If being a part of a charity becomes popular I want it to be for the right reason – not because you want to put on a ball, but because you want to help a cause.”
THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY
While other boys his age were dreaming of being astronauts, professional surfers, or commandos, when he was only 14 Jonathan Nicholas knew he wanted to do a job where he was helping others. The youngster was particularly aware of the problems caused by mental illness since his father is a clinical psychologist. So when he found work at Inspire Foundation, a charity whose main aim was to use technology to help young people to help themselves and others, he knew he’d be staying for a while.
A decade later, the 31-year-old is still working with Inspire Foundation and is now the charity’s director of programs. It’s three web-based services – www.reachout.com.au, www.actnow.com.au (a V Festival partner) and www.beanbag.com.au – are designed to reach, assist and educate young people by exploiting technology the users are familiar with. The sites’ purposes are to help young people through tough times and mental illnesses such as depression, and to educate them about current issues like the water crisis.
“I’ve always loved the work that Inspire does and have always been really excited by the ways you can use technology to improve people’s lives,” says Nicholas. “My job and my teams are really about what goes on the websites and how we can continue to improve the services we offer.”
Nicholas says that while people don’t enter his industry for the money, it’s incorrect to assume that those who work in the not-for-profit field are lowly paid. He may not have the breadth of the financial benefits offered to somebody in the private industry, but Nicholas says not-for-profits are paying the right money for the right people.
However, the private, for-profit sector could never offer the immense satisfaction that Nicholas experiences on a daily basis on a number of levels. “You’ve got more opportunities working in the not-for-profit sector to engage in the real world,” explains Nicholas. “Part of that is the great privilege of hearing what’s important to people rather than trying to sell them a product – I find people’s lives endlessly fascinating. You also get an opportunity to help people and to be of service, which is great.”
Working at the coalface allows Nicholas to receive first-hand feedback from his public. He regularly hears from young people who have been able to use his websites to learn more about a particular issue and as a result have taken action in their own lives to help resolve the issue, as well as those who have overcome a possibly debilitating mental illness. It’s this feedback that constantly amazes him and the fact that he can use technology to help people help themselves, he says, is thrilling.
“I’ve had some really amazing opportunities to do some amazing things and work with amazing people. I don’t know if I could ever give this up.”
A BEAUTIFUL NATION
Every worker has a different motivation for the job they do. For many it’s money, for some it’s power, for others prestige. In the case of 26-year-old Peter McLean, NSW programs director at Keep Australia Beautiful, it’s all about having a close connection to the community, and being able to make a positive change on the environment in an age when too many people simply talk about it.
“An expensive company car and a corner office with a view certainly don’t feature high on my list,” smiles McLean, who has worked for Keep Australia Beautiful for three years. “Some of my friends who work for large corporates have a very different list of priorities, but they sometimes hate the idea of going to work. To me, being able to enjoy and feel challenged by my job is an important factor.”
McLean’s area of responsibility covers aspects of public relations, strategic planning, project management and sponsorship relations. It also involves a lot of travel around New South Wales to meet and work with volunteers and to check out new innovations in the battle to save the environment town by town. The opportunity to become proficient in various areas of business, he says, is one of the perks of working for a smaller organisation where staff are not pigeon-holed into a specific job.
Already possessing a degree in environmental management, McLean is now enrolled in a part-time MBA course, further enhancing his already broad knowledge of business affairs. But back in the office it’s the fact his work makes a direct and valuable impact that keeps the satisfaction levels high.
“I love being involved, actively seeing a positive change across the NSW environment,” he says. “I love watching environmental projects come to fruition and seeing the creativeness and innovation of some of the rural communities.
“Keep Australia Beautiful offers them recognition and support as well as resources for their projects. The Tidy Towns Awards give them something to look forward to and work towards every year. Without the people and drive there might be no trees planted, no litter picked up and no visitor infrastructure.”
Across various state offices of Keep Australia Beautiful, McLean estimates at least half of the staff are under the age of 30, indicating an enormous shift of the younger generation towards non-government organisations and charities that are making a difference.
“Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t go for everyone below a certain age,” explains McLean. “In fact, sometimes it feels like it can be quite a unique motivator. I have even been labelled a ‘greenie’ once or twice by my friends, but I actually see myself as an environmental realist. I help to promote easy ways to look after the environment and I can see through that there’s a big difference being made.”
CORPORATE GIVING
Recognising the need for staff to see that their company is making a difference, nearly three years ago the Virgin group set up an independent charity arm called Virgin Unite, its aim being to challenge the way social and business sectors work together.
Connecting the donations, time and expertise of the thousands of Virgin staff, Virgin Unite identifies charitable organisations that make a difference often at a grassroots level, and sets up sustainable relationships. Virgin Unite helps Virgin brands and businesses connect with charitable organisations in order to become a true partner, becoming a part of the change process rather than simply making donations.
Virgin Unite Australia brokered the valuable affiliation between Inspire Foundation’s ActNow and V Festival, and has set up relationships with other local charities including South Sydney Youth Services and Stretch-A-Family. Virgin Unite also operates in North America, UK, Europe and South Africa. (Credit: Voyeur Magazine)
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Media Man Australia Upcoming Media Interviews
Media Man Australia director, Greg Tingle, has another series of interviews about to be released into the public domain.
MMA founder, Greg Tingle, will also be interviewed himself about his business, community and philanthropic activities.
Greg's last public interview can be read here.
Website
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MMA founder, Greg Tingle, will also be interviewed himself about his business, community and philanthropic activities.
Greg's last public interview can be read here.
Website
Media Man Australia
Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Record crowds and celebrities from Sydney's cool scene, pack North Bondi Beach for the first ever Changing Colours Movement protest concert
For Immediate Release:
Record crowds and celebrities from Sydney's cool scene, pack North Bondi Beach for the first ever Changing Colours Movement protest concert to raise money and awareness for the timely issue of whaling.
Celebrities the likes of Hugh Jackman, Gyton Grantley, Bessie Bardot, Lauren Eagle, Nicole Atherton (World Jnr. Womens suf champ) Aaron Jefferies, Leanna Walsman, and Belinda Chappel joined Australian band Mojada and special guests Waverly Mayor Ingrid Strewe, Deputy Mayor Dominic WYkanak, Ceo of Greenpeace Steve Shalhorn, And Ceo of IFAW Erica to stand up and voice their opposition to the timely issue of whaling that continues to illegally take place in the protected Australian waters of the Southern Antarctic sanctuary.
Amidst the chilling winds of last Sunday's winter solstice, infront of the camera's of Australia's national media, the local community turned out and witnessed the celebrity guest speakers and an amazing ceremony from legendary Aboriginal musician Bunna Lawrie of the Mirning Tribe and iconic ARIA Award winning Aboriginal band Coloured Stone.
As Bunna performed his traditional whale songs, enlisting the help of the crowd that filled the beach to sing along, 3 humpback whales surfaced not 50 meters off the beach to come and have a listen to the community singing along with Bunna in celebration of these beautiful creatures.
Proceeds from the event were raised for pro surfer Dave Rastovich's 'Surfers for Cetaceans', and Jeff Pantukhoff's 'Whaleman' foundations. Jack Thompson, narrator of the soon to be released Julian Lennon film 'Whaledreamers' also endorsed the event and recorded a video message of support that was played on the night in his absence.
After the official activities on the beach, the event then moved into the North Bondi RSL for the concert featuring music acts including Triple J favorites Melanie Horsnell, Declan Kelly, Gin Wigmore, Budspells and Superstar Dj TARAS.
The highlight of the concert was undoubtedly the jam between Bunna Lawrie, Mojada and Waverly deputy mayor Dominic WYKanak. The 600 strong sell out crowd felt the roof lift off the north Bondi RSL, which representatives agreed, had never seen such a big event of this stature through its doors in its 50 year history.
Mojada and Bunna head into the studio this weekend, with Producer Nial Anderson to record new material for Bunna including the remake of some of Coloured Stone's classic hits.
Band members from Mojada, who founded The Changing Colours Movement just 4 weeks ago after returning from the US with their debut record, will continue to push for their target of 1 MILLION online signatures against whaling, and plan a release over the next 2 weeks (date TBC) of a film clip for their protest song "Changing Colours" written in direct response to the whaling issue.
"After witnessing the confronting images of the slaughter of hundreds of Dolphins and whales after peaceful protesters were forced away by local fisherman in the bay of Taiji, Japan, we have had an unavoidable drive to help campaign towards the protection and conservation of these majestic ocean giants."
To organize a copy of the film clip, song or interview or further information and pictures
Please contact: The Changing Colours Movement
3/27 Curlewis st, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
+61 4 14 628 650. +612 9300 8649
Media Man Australia Profiles
Environmentalists and the environment
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Record crowds and celebrities from Sydney's cool scene, pack North Bondi Beach for the first ever Changing Colours Movement protest concert to raise money and awareness for the timely issue of whaling.
Celebrities the likes of Hugh Jackman, Gyton Grantley, Bessie Bardot, Lauren Eagle, Nicole Atherton (World Jnr. Womens suf champ) Aaron Jefferies, Leanna Walsman, and Belinda Chappel joined Australian band Mojada and special guests Waverly Mayor Ingrid Strewe, Deputy Mayor Dominic WYkanak, Ceo of Greenpeace Steve Shalhorn, And Ceo of IFAW Erica to stand up and voice their opposition to the timely issue of whaling that continues to illegally take place in the protected Australian waters of the Southern Antarctic sanctuary.
Amidst the chilling winds of last Sunday's winter solstice, infront of the camera's of Australia's national media, the local community turned out and witnessed the celebrity guest speakers and an amazing ceremony from legendary Aboriginal musician Bunna Lawrie of the Mirning Tribe and iconic ARIA Award winning Aboriginal band Coloured Stone.
As Bunna performed his traditional whale songs, enlisting the help of the crowd that filled the beach to sing along, 3 humpback whales surfaced not 50 meters off the beach to come and have a listen to the community singing along with Bunna in celebration of these beautiful creatures.
Proceeds from the event were raised for pro surfer Dave Rastovich's 'Surfers for Cetaceans', and Jeff Pantukhoff's 'Whaleman' foundations. Jack Thompson, narrator of the soon to be released Julian Lennon film 'Whaledreamers' also endorsed the event and recorded a video message of support that was played on the night in his absence.
After the official activities on the beach, the event then moved into the North Bondi RSL for the concert featuring music acts including Triple J favorites Melanie Horsnell, Declan Kelly, Gin Wigmore, Budspells and Superstar Dj TARAS.
The highlight of the concert was undoubtedly the jam between Bunna Lawrie, Mojada and Waverly deputy mayor Dominic WYKanak. The 600 strong sell out crowd felt the roof lift off the north Bondi RSL, which representatives agreed, had never seen such a big event of this stature through its doors in its 50 year history.
Mojada and Bunna head into the studio this weekend, with Producer Nial Anderson to record new material for Bunna including the remake of some of Coloured Stone's classic hits.
Band members from Mojada, who founded The Changing Colours Movement just 4 weeks ago after returning from the US with their debut record, will continue to push for their target of 1 MILLION online signatures against whaling, and plan a release over the next 2 weeks (date TBC) of a film clip for their protest song "Changing Colours" written in direct response to the whaling issue.
"After witnessing the confronting images of the slaughter of hundreds of Dolphins and whales after peaceful protesters were forced away by local fisherman in the bay of Taiji, Japan, we have had an unavoidable drive to help campaign towards the protection and conservation of these majestic ocean giants."
To organize a copy of the film clip, song or interview or further information and pictures
Please contact: The Changing Colours Movement
3/27 Curlewis st, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
+61 4 14 628 650. +612 9300 8649
Media Man Australia Profiles
Environmentalists and the environment
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Shocking New Documentary - Film Shows Inhumane Slaughter of Coastal Whales - Press Release
SAVE JAPAN DOLPHINS COALITION
Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan ** International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute ** In Defense of Animals ** Animal Welfare Institute
PRESS ALERT***PRESS ALERT***PRESS ALERT
For Immediate Release
June 19, 2008
Contacts: David Phillips (415) 788-3666 x145
Richard O’Barry BlackBerry Phone:
786-973-8618 - IWC at Hotel Orly,
Santiago, Chile: +562-231-8947
Mark J. Palmer (530) 758-6022
IWC at Hotel Atton Las Condes,
Santiago, Chile: 011-562-4227902
Shocking New Documentary
of Dolphin Slaughter In Japan
Film Shows Inhumane Slaughter of Coastal Whales
SEE: http://homepage.mac.com/louieops/FileSharing28.html
The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition joins the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) in releasing a shocking new video of the cruel slaughter of dolphins by Japanese whalers. Japan is pushing the International Whaling Commission (IWC), meeting in Santiago, Chile, June 23-27, to overturn the 20-year old commercial whaling moratorium by allowing it to conduct commercial whaling off its shores.
“Dolphins and porpoises are whales, and size doesn’t matter,” says Louie Psihoyos, Executive Director of OPS, who has spent the last three years making a full-length documentary film on the dolphin slaughter and the high mercury content of the meat. “The IWC has overlooked the smallest leviathans since the moratorium was put in place, even though their mandate is to manage all whales. This short film will shed light on the truth the Japanese whalers don’t want the world to see.”
OPS is releasing a short film of recently acquired covert footage of Japanese whalers slaughtering dolphins, to media groups and delegates to the IWC. The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition helped in making of the film, which features the efforts of Ric O’Barry, Director of the coalition and an expert on dolphins.
“The dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan, is the most horrendous act of cruelty, callousness, and waste that I have ever witnessed,” states Ric O’Barry, Director of Save Japan Dolphins Coalition and an expert on dolphins. “How can the IWC even consider opening up commercial coastal whaling in Japan, which would result in more slaughtered whales, more slaughtered dolphins, and more suffering of these intelligent mammals?”
While the IWC maintains a moratorium on commercial whaling around the world initiated in 1986, the Japan Fisheries Agency continues to allow the slaughter of more than 20,000 dolphins annually in Japan’s coastal waters and conducts “scientific whaling” in the North Pacific and Antarctica, targeting well over 1,000 whales annually. Meat from the “scientific” whaling is sold in markets.
“The IWC knows that Japan’s slaughter of whales for so-called scientific purposes is a ploy to circumvent the commercial whaling ban, yet instead of taking Japan to task, it may reward Japan for its renegade acts by lifting the ban,” said DJ Schubert of the Animal Welfare Institute, a Coalition member. “And it defies belief that the United States, which was instrumental in achieving the ban, is now the country leading the IWC toward capitulation,” he added.
“Recently, in defiance of both the IWC and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Japan imported whale meat from Iceland and Norway,” notes David Phillips, Director of Earth Island Institute, a member of the Coalition. “How can the IWC trust Japan, which kills dolphins in the most cruel manner imaginable, ignores the international whaling moratorium and slaughters whales for commercial purposes disguised as science, and now illegally trades whale meat?”
“We are hoping the film will help sway the vote of any IWC delegate that is thinking of voting with Japan to open up commercial whaling“ Psihoyos adds. “Killing nearly a million small cetaceans is commercial whaling, and allowing the highly toxic meat to be given away to school children is criminal. Japanese whalers and their agency accomplices cannot be trusted.”
* * * * *
The Coalition to stop the dolphin slaughter consists of Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute, In Defense of Animals, and Animal Welfare Institute. For further information: http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org
VISUALS AVAILABLE: Video footage of the cruel slaughter of dolphins in Japan is available on request. Contact Viki Psihoyos, Oceanic Preservation Society (303) 618-4945 viki@psihoyos.com
Media Man Australia Profiles
Whales
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan ** International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute ** In Defense of Animals ** Animal Welfare Institute
PRESS ALERT***PRESS ALERT***PRESS ALERT
For Immediate Release
June 19, 2008
Contacts: David Phillips (415) 788-3666 x145
Richard O’Barry BlackBerry Phone:
786-973-8618 - IWC at Hotel Orly,
Santiago, Chile: +562-231-8947
Mark J. Palmer (530) 758-6022
IWC at Hotel Atton Las Condes,
Santiago, Chile: 011-562-4227902
Shocking New Documentary
of Dolphin Slaughter In Japan
Film Shows Inhumane Slaughter of Coastal Whales
SEE: http://homepage.mac.com/louieops/FileSharing28.html
The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition joins the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) in releasing a shocking new video of the cruel slaughter of dolphins by Japanese whalers. Japan is pushing the International Whaling Commission (IWC), meeting in Santiago, Chile, June 23-27, to overturn the 20-year old commercial whaling moratorium by allowing it to conduct commercial whaling off its shores.
“Dolphins and porpoises are whales, and size doesn’t matter,” says Louie Psihoyos, Executive Director of OPS, who has spent the last three years making a full-length documentary film on the dolphin slaughter and the high mercury content of the meat. “The IWC has overlooked the smallest leviathans since the moratorium was put in place, even though their mandate is to manage all whales. This short film will shed light on the truth the Japanese whalers don’t want the world to see.”
OPS is releasing a short film of recently acquired covert footage of Japanese whalers slaughtering dolphins, to media groups and delegates to the IWC. The Save Japan Dolphins Coalition helped in making of the film, which features the efforts of Ric O’Barry, Director of the coalition and an expert on dolphins.
“The dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan, is the most horrendous act of cruelty, callousness, and waste that I have ever witnessed,” states Ric O’Barry, Director of Save Japan Dolphins Coalition and an expert on dolphins. “How can the IWC even consider opening up commercial coastal whaling in Japan, which would result in more slaughtered whales, more slaughtered dolphins, and more suffering of these intelligent mammals?”
While the IWC maintains a moratorium on commercial whaling around the world initiated in 1986, the Japan Fisheries Agency continues to allow the slaughter of more than 20,000 dolphins annually in Japan’s coastal waters and conducts “scientific whaling” in the North Pacific and Antarctica, targeting well over 1,000 whales annually. Meat from the “scientific” whaling is sold in markets.
“The IWC knows that Japan’s slaughter of whales for so-called scientific purposes is a ploy to circumvent the commercial whaling ban, yet instead of taking Japan to task, it may reward Japan for its renegade acts by lifting the ban,” said DJ Schubert of the Animal Welfare Institute, a Coalition member. “And it defies belief that the United States, which was instrumental in achieving the ban, is now the country leading the IWC toward capitulation,” he added.
“Recently, in defiance of both the IWC and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Japan imported whale meat from Iceland and Norway,” notes David Phillips, Director of Earth Island Institute, a member of the Coalition. “How can the IWC trust Japan, which kills dolphins in the most cruel manner imaginable, ignores the international whaling moratorium and slaughters whales for commercial purposes disguised as science, and now illegally trades whale meat?”
“We are hoping the film will help sway the vote of any IWC delegate that is thinking of voting with Japan to open up commercial whaling“ Psihoyos adds. “Killing nearly a million small cetaceans is commercial whaling, and allowing the highly toxic meat to be given away to school children is criminal. Japanese whalers and their agency accomplices cannot be trusted.”
* * * * *
The Coalition to stop the dolphin slaughter consists of Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan, the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute, In Defense of Animals, and Animal Welfare Institute. For further information: http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org
VISUALS AVAILABLE: Video footage of the cruel slaughter of dolphins in Japan is available on request. Contact Viki Psihoyos, Oceanic Preservation Society (303) 618-4945 viki@psihoyos.com
Media Man Australia Profiles
Whales
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Frail Mandela marks 90th birthday - The Sydney Morning Herald - 28th June 2008
A star-studded cast of artists helped Nelson Mandela celebrate his upcoming 90th birthday with a giant concert in London in support of his 46664 AIDS campaign.
Queen, Amy Winehouse and Annie Lennox were among the performers in Hyde Park for the gig, which was hosted by Hollywood star Will Smith and was held to mark Mandela's birthday on July 18.
The former South African president looked frail and leaned on a cane as he was helped onto the stage by his wife, Graca Machel. But the crowd fell silent when the global icon spoke, his brief speech bringing thunderous applause.
"Where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done. Our work is for freedom for all," Mandela said.
"It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now. I thank you," added Mandela.
Mandela, who retired from public life nine years ago, is now expected to retreat further from the limelight.
Anglo-Swedish rockers Razorlight got the crowd going, before Scottish singer Lennox gave an impassioned speech about combating the virus.
"We must do something to prevent a virtual genocide upon your people," she said, speaking of Mandela's fellow South Africans.
She performed acapella with a choir from the Agape children's orphanage in South Africa, where most residents have lost their parents to AIDS.
Troubled British soul singer Winehouse, who has been battling drug and lung problems, was back in form with a powerful performance of two of her best-known songs, Rehab and Valerie.
Topping the bill, Queen and Paul Rodgers rocked the audience with hits like All Right Now and We Will Rock You.
To close the show, Winehouse led the ensemble in a rendition of Free Nelson Mandela, with the anti-apartheid anthem's writer Jerry Dammers on keyboards.
Mandela did not repeat his comments on the Zimbabwe crisis, but Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell, Ugandan artist Bebe Cool and Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell did mention the troubled situation.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told host broadcaster ITV that Mandela was an inspiration.
"You know when you go into a room and you meet Nelson Mandela you are in the presence of a great man - the greatest man of our generation, the leader who ended apartheid and the man whose faith in the future was such that he risked execution, prison, intimidation, violence to serve the cause that he believed in," he said.
Ben Motsumi, 45, a nurse from Klerksdorp in South Africa, brought his wife and children.
"I'm here to see Nelson Mandela," he told AFP.
"He's a hero to me. I've got all pictures of him in my house. I've been in Britain for nine years. This is an incredible occasion for us. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here."
Other performers included Simple Minds, Josh Groban, Joan Baez, Leona Lewis, the Sugababes, Eddy Grant, Jamelia, the Sudanese "war child" rapper Emmanuel Jal and a host of other African artists.
Today's concert, which was broadcast around the world, came 20 years after a concert at London's Wembley Stadium that helped press South Africa's apartheid authorities for Mandela's freedom.
Mandela said the giant 1988 concert at Wembley Stadium, which marked his 70th birthday and called for his release from jail, served to "inspire us in our prison cells".
Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr told reporters: "At the original one, there was anger involved because of the circumstances.
"This time, there's a lot more joy. It's a unique occasion."
Precisely 46,664 tickets - after Mandela's prison number during his 27-year incarceration for trying to topple South Africa's apartheid regime - went on sale for the three-and-a-half-hour concert.
The 46664 campaign, which has seen four previous multi-artist concerts, aims to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is rife in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa is one of the countries worst hit by HIV - 5.41 million people there have the illness. Mandela lost a son to AIDS in January 2005 and has now made fighting the syndrome his main cause.
"I came to support a great man and a great cause," said Lisle Lewis, 34, from Cape Town.
"I came to say thank-you. Mandela means freedom, understanding and love. I'm going to start crying in a minute!" the dentist told AFP.
"He's taught me to be more appreciative and accepting of other races."
AFP/AP
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Queen, Amy Winehouse and Annie Lennox were among the performers in Hyde Park for the gig, which was hosted by Hollywood star Will Smith and was held to mark Mandela's birthday on July 18.
The former South African president looked frail and leaned on a cane as he was helped onto the stage by his wife, Graca Machel. But the crowd fell silent when the global icon spoke, his brief speech bringing thunderous applause.
"Where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done. Our work is for freedom for all," Mandela said.
"It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now. I thank you," added Mandela.
Mandela, who retired from public life nine years ago, is now expected to retreat further from the limelight.
Anglo-Swedish rockers Razorlight got the crowd going, before Scottish singer Lennox gave an impassioned speech about combating the virus.
"We must do something to prevent a virtual genocide upon your people," she said, speaking of Mandela's fellow South Africans.
She performed acapella with a choir from the Agape children's orphanage in South Africa, where most residents have lost their parents to AIDS.
Troubled British soul singer Winehouse, who has been battling drug and lung problems, was back in form with a powerful performance of two of her best-known songs, Rehab and Valerie.
Topping the bill, Queen and Paul Rodgers rocked the audience with hits like All Right Now and We Will Rock You.
To close the show, Winehouse led the ensemble in a rendition of Free Nelson Mandela, with the anti-apartheid anthem's writer Jerry Dammers on keyboards.
Mandela did not repeat his comments on the Zimbabwe crisis, but Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell, Ugandan artist Bebe Cool and Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell did mention the troubled situation.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told host broadcaster ITV that Mandela was an inspiration.
"You know when you go into a room and you meet Nelson Mandela you are in the presence of a great man - the greatest man of our generation, the leader who ended apartheid and the man whose faith in the future was such that he risked execution, prison, intimidation, violence to serve the cause that he believed in," he said.
Ben Motsumi, 45, a nurse from Klerksdorp in South Africa, brought his wife and children.
"I'm here to see Nelson Mandela," he told AFP.
"He's a hero to me. I've got all pictures of him in my house. I've been in Britain for nine years. This is an incredible occasion for us. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here."
Other performers included Simple Minds, Josh Groban, Joan Baez, Leona Lewis, the Sugababes, Eddy Grant, Jamelia, the Sudanese "war child" rapper Emmanuel Jal and a host of other African artists.
Today's concert, which was broadcast around the world, came 20 years after a concert at London's Wembley Stadium that helped press South Africa's apartheid authorities for Mandela's freedom.
Mandela said the giant 1988 concert at Wembley Stadium, which marked his 70th birthday and called for his release from jail, served to "inspire us in our prison cells".
Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr told reporters: "At the original one, there was anger involved because of the circumstances.
"This time, there's a lot more joy. It's a unique occasion."
Precisely 46,664 tickets - after Mandela's prison number during his 27-year incarceration for trying to topple South Africa's apartheid regime - went on sale for the three-and-a-half-hour concert.
The 46664 campaign, which has seen four previous multi-artist concerts, aims to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is rife in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa is one of the countries worst hit by HIV - 5.41 million people there have the illness. Mandela lost a son to AIDS in January 2005 and has now made fighting the syndrome his main cause.
"I came to support a great man and a great cause," said Lisle Lewis, 34, from Cape Town.
"I came to say thank-you. Mandela means freedom, understanding and love. I'm going to start crying in a minute!" the dentist told AFP.
"He's taught me to be more appreciative and accepting of other races."
AFP/AP
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Seeking Opinions: Is 'Creative Capitalism' Dangerous or Brilliant? - The Chronicle of Philanthropy - 27th June 2008
If you have an opinion about whether “creative capitalism” can save the world, the journalist Michael Kinsley would like to hear from you. Mr. Kinsley is looking for contributors to a book he is producing about the notion that capitalism can be reshaped to help lift people out of poverty.
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft who is stepping down today to work full time for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, floated the term “creative capitalism” last winter at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He argued that problems in the world’s poorest countries are too big to be solved by philanthropy. Capitalism must step in, he said, but at the moment it does much better at serving the needs of the prosperous than those of the poor.
“The notion that capitalism, which is all about self-interest, can be amended somehow to be more about helping others—and still be capitalist—struck many (me included, at least at first) as hopelessly Pollyannaish and a little bizarre,” Mr. Kinsley writes on The Huffington Post.
What’s wrong, he wonders, with Mr. Gates’s current approach — “make the money, then give it away”? Or with taxing wealth? And if corporations give money away or devote it to good works, aren’t they cheating their shareholders?
Mr. Kinsley said he would like contributors to his book to explore such questions and decide whether “creative capitalism” is “meaningless, dangerous, useless, maybe useful, very useful, or brilliant.”
He has also created a blog where people can debate the issue publicly.
Mr. Kinsley is married to Patty Stonesifer, the outgoing chief executive of the Gates Foundation, but the writer says neither Mr. Gates nor the foundation have anything officially to do with his book project (“unless you count glancing at printouts left by accident on the kitchen counter as ‘official’”).
Do you think “creative capitalism” can help the world’s poor? Click on the comment link below to share your thoughts. (A paid subscription and free registration are required to read the Chronicle article.)
Comments
I do think that creative capitalism will lead the way towards fostering working economies in developing countries.
— Lara Sanders Jun 27
I think Bill Gates might believe in the law of the universe, what you give comes back to you. Bill Gates also evidently aware that success and wealth can be measured in many ways. I would suggest that Mr Gates may be becoming more wealthy by the day, with all the good deeds his fine foundation is doing. Awesome leadership and a true social and community entrepreneur.
— Greg Tingle Jun 27
Credit: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft who is stepping down today to work full time for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, floated the term “creative capitalism” last winter at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He argued that problems in the world’s poorest countries are too big to be solved by philanthropy. Capitalism must step in, he said, but at the moment it does much better at serving the needs of the prosperous than those of the poor.
“The notion that capitalism, which is all about self-interest, can be amended somehow to be more about helping others—and still be capitalist—struck many (me included, at least at first) as hopelessly Pollyannaish and a little bizarre,” Mr. Kinsley writes on The Huffington Post.
What’s wrong, he wonders, with Mr. Gates’s current approach — “make the money, then give it away”? Or with taxing wealth? And if corporations give money away or devote it to good works, aren’t they cheating their shareholders?
Mr. Kinsley said he would like contributors to his book to explore such questions and decide whether “creative capitalism” is “meaningless, dangerous, useless, maybe useful, very useful, or brilliant.”
He has also created a blog where people can debate the issue publicly.
Mr. Kinsley is married to Patty Stonesifer, the outgoing chief executive of the Gates Foundation, but the writer says neither Mr. Gates nor the foundation have anything officially to do with his book project (“unless you count glancing at printouts left by accident on the kitchen counter as ‘official’”).
Do you think “creative capitalism” can help the world’s poor? Click on the comment link below to share your thoughts. (A paid subscription and free registration are required to read the Chronicle article.)
Comments
I do think that creative capitalism will lead the way towards fostering working economies in developing countries.
— Lara Sanders Jun 27
I think Bill Gates might believe in the law of the universe, what you give comes back to you. Bill Gates also evidently aware that success and wealth can be measured in many ways. I would suggest that Mr Gates may be becoming more wealthy by the day, with all the good deeds his fine foundation is doing. Awesome leadership and a true social and community entrepreneur.
— Greg Tingle Jun 27
Credit: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Tough times hit charities, By Kate Perry - News.com.au - 27th June 2008
# Donations to winter appeals are down for some charities
# Local causes can find it tougher to attract funds
There's increasing competition for the 'donor dollar' among the 700,000 registered charities in Australia as rising rates, petrol and general living costs put the squeeze on hip pockets.
Some major charities are reporting a drop-off in donations during a time when donations are usually flowing in.
The end of the financial year traditionally attracts more money for charities, as donors rush to qualify for tax breaks before the end of the financial year. Waiting until now to donate means you only have a short wait until you get back any deductions.
To be able to claim back any tax on donations, you need to make sure the charity or not-for-profit organisation you’re giving money to is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the tax office. A list of eligible DGR’s can be found on the ATO website.
There are conditions on what you can claim. Donations must be over $2 and you need a receipt. Some gifts to DGRs — such as tickets to a charity dinner or ball — aren't eligible.
Pulling the heart strings
Charity begins at home, according to the old saying. But in reality it’s often the large scale international disasters that get a lot of media play , and it's the high profile incidents which generally prompt Australians to put their hands in their pockets. Ongoing local work tends to be lower profile and can be harder to get people excited about.
A Red Cross spokeswoman said there had been an amazing response to recent appeals launched after the Burma cyclone and earthquake in China. But in terms of the organisation’s annual winter appeal, donations are down and the total collected is expected to fall short of last year.
“At this stage, it’s hard to know exactly why that is, but we’re keen to get the message across that whilst people have been very generous for those two international appeals our work in Australia and with our Asia-Pacific neighbours continues to need support from the public.”
The Smith Family is another not-for-profit organisation doing it tougher this year.
Despite a media blitz earlier this month donations to its annual winter appeal are still down about 10 per cent on the same time last year. This means the group could end up as much as $500,000 short of its $4.5 million fundraising target.
Acting chief executive of the Smith Family, Paul Henderson said the frustrating thing is that in tough times charities are hit with the double whammy of donations slowing down, but demand for their services picking up.
He agreed that international appeals usually get a lot of attention, but urged Australians to look at local needs as well.
“When evaluating the options, let’s not forget about the home front.”
Putting a face – be it human or furry – on a situation can motivate donors. An RSPCA spokeswoman said it’s the newsworthy cases of animal mistreatment that inspire people to dig into their pockets.
“A high profile cruelty case will inspire people to take action, whether that’s action to donate, to adopt an animal from a shelter or to report a suspected case of cruelty in their neighbourhood, she said.
According to a large scale study into the charitable sector conducted a couple of years ago concluded there are three kinds of donors: people who believe strongly in a cause; proactive donors who make regular donations such as through child sponsorship, and reactive donors who respond to tin rattlers in the street.
Where does it go?
Clearly, not every cent you donate is going to make it through to your chosen cause – some will get eaten up with fundraising or administration costs. These can range from charities buying ribbons or raffle prizes, to paying guest speakers for a charity ball, or even employing outside contractors to knock on doors or stand in shopping malls to collect donations.
In Australia it can be difficult to tell how much of your donation is making it through to your chosen cause, and how much is being eaten up by these costs.
A study this year by consumer watchdog Choice found that some systems used by not-for-profits seemed to downplay administration costs, making it seem like a higher portion of donations were reaching the needy.
Some states have rules for cost ratios – or the amount of raised funds that can be put towards covering fundraising activities. In New South Wales the maximum that can go towards covering costs is 40 per cent, and in Victoria registered fundraisers have to donate at least 50 per cent of funds raised or explain where the money’s gone and why.
Choice wants to see a single regulator of the charity sector and a standard reporting system.
"While the charities' accounting methods are quite legal, CHOICE thinks donors have a right to clear, consistent information that enables them to make an informed decision about which charity or charities to support," CHOICE media spokesperson Christopher Zinn said when the study was released.
Charity facts
• Individuals donated about $5.7bn to charity in 2005
• Donations were made by 13.4 million Australians, or 87 per cent of the adult population
• The median donation was $100 per person; the mean was $424 per person
• Religious organisations got the largest number of individual donations - 36.1 per cent; followed by health (14.2 per cent), international aid (13.3 per cent), community/welfare organisations (12.8 per cent), education (6.6 per cent), environment and animal welfare (4.8 per cent), sporting and recreational groups (3.7 per cent) and arts or cultural associations (2.3 per cent). Other not-for-profit sectors make up 6.2 per cent of total donations.
Source: Philanthropy Australia: Giving Australia Report 2006
Readers' Comments
There's almost too many worthy causes, however having variety also means that there's a charity for just about everything, especially here in Australia. Just like the corporate word and brands, there's only so much room at the top, and an elite few dominate the news headlines, and the others remain pretty much on struggle street. Via websites like mine, numerous charities can at least share equal space via the new media, however print and TV coverage is what makes the masses aware. The Just Enough Faith situation has helped put accountability of charities under the microscope, and that's a good thing, however there was also PR damage to the philanthropic sector in the process. It's a numbers game, and the numbers are down at the moment. Perhaps this coverage may assist.
Posted by: Greg Tingle of Bondi Beach, Sydney
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
# Local causes can find it tougher to attract funds
There's increasing competition for the 'donor dollar' among the 700,000 registered charities in Australia as rising rates, petrol and general living costs put the squeeze on hip pockets.
Some major charities are reporting a drop-off in donations during a time when donations are usually flowing in.
The end of the financial year traditionally attracts more money for charities, as donors rush to qualify for tax breaks before the end of the financial year. Waiting until now to donate means you only have a short wait until you get back any deductions.
To be able to claim back any tax on donations, you need to make sure the charity or not-for-profit organisation you’re giving money to is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the tax office. A list of eligible DGR’s can be found on the ATO website.
There are conditions on what you can claim. Donations must be over $2 and you need a receipt. Some gifts to DGRs — such as tickets to a charity dinner or ball — aren't eligible.
Pulling the heart strings
Charity begins at home, according to the old saying. But in reality it’s often the large scale international disasters that get a lot of media play , and it's the high profile incidents which generally prompt Australians to put their hands in their pockets. Ongoing local work tends to be lower profile and can be harder to get people excited about.
A Red Cross spokeswoman said there had been an amazing response to recent appeals launched after the Burma cyclone and earthquake in China. But in terms of the organisation’s annual winter appeal, donations are down and the total collected is expected to fall short of last year.
“At this stage, it’s hard to know exactly why that is, but we’re keen to get the message across that whilst people have been very generous for those two international appeals our work in Australia and with our Asia-Pacific neighbours continues to need support from the public.”
The Smith Family is another not-for-profit organisation doing it tougher this year.
Despite a media blitz earlier this month donations to its annual winter appeal are still down about 10 per cent on the same time last year. This means the group could end up as much as $500,000 short of its $4.5 million fundraising target.
Acting chief executive of the Smith Family, Paul Henderson said the frustrating thing is that in tough times charities are hit with the double whammy of donations slowing down, but demand for their services picking up.
He agreed that international appeals usually get a lot of attention, but urged Australians to look at local needs as well.
“When evaluating the options, let’s not forget about the home front.”
Putting a face – be it human or furry – on a situation can motivate donors. An RSPCA spokeswoman said it’s the newsworthy cases of animal mistreatment that inspire people to dig into their pockets.
“A high profile cruelty case will inspire people to take action, whether that’s action to donate, to adopt an animal from a shelter or to report a suspected case of cruelty in their neighbourhood, she said.
According to a large scale study into the charitable sector conducted a couple of years ago concluded there are three kinds of donors: people who believe strongly in a cause; proactive donors who make regular donations such as through child sponsorship, and reactive donors who respond to tin rattlers in the street.
Where does it go?
Clearly, not every cent you donate is going to make it through to your chosen cause – some will get eaten up with fundraising or administration costs. These can range from charities buying ribbons or raffle prizes, to paying guest speakers for a charity ball, or even employing outside contractors to knock on doors or stand in shopping malls to collect donations.
In Australia it can be difficult to tell how much of your donation is making it through to your chosen cause, and how much is being eaten up by these costs.
A study this year by consumer watchdog Choice found that some systems used by not-for-profits seemed to downplay administration costs, making it seem like a higher portion of donations were reaching the needy.
Some states have rules for cost ratios – or the amount of raised funds that can be put towards covering fundraising activities. In New South Wales the maximum that can go towards covering costs is 40 per cent, and in Victoria registered fundraisers have to donate at least 50 per cent of funds raised or explain where the money’s gone and why.
Choice wants to see a single regulator of the charity sector and a standard reporting system.
"While the charities' accounting methods are quite legal, CHOICE thinks donors have a right to clear, consistent information that enables them to make an informed decision about which charity or charities to support," CHOICE media spokesperson Christopher Zinn said when the study was released.
Charity facts
• Individuals donated about $5.7bn to charity in 2005
• Donations were made by 13.4 million Australians, or 87 per cent of the adult population
• The median donation was $100 per person; the mean was $424 per person
• Religious organisations got the largest number of individual donations - 36.1 per cent; followed by health (14.2 per cent), international aid (13.3 per cent), community/welfare organisations (12.8 per cent), education (6.6 per cent), environment and animal welfare (4.8 per cent), sporting and recreational groups (3.7 per cent) and arts or cultural associations (2.3 per cent). Other not-for-profit sectors make up 6.2 per cent of total donations.
Source: Philanthropy Australia: Giving Australia Report 2006
Readers' Comments
There's almost too many worthy causes, however having variety also means that there's a charity for just about everything, especially here in Australia. Just like the corporate word and brands, there's only so much room at the top, and an elite few dominate the news headlines, and the others remain pretty much on struggle street. Via websites like mine, numerous charities can at least share equal space via the new media, however print and TV coverage is what makes the masses aware. The Just Enough Faith situation has helped put accountability of charities under the microscope, and that's a good thing, however there was also PR damage to the philanthropic sector in the process. It's a numbers game, and the numbers are down at the moment. Perhaps this coverage may assist.
Posted by: Greg Tingle of Bondi Beach, Sydney
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Global humanitarian forum in works - Kofi Annan - Reuters - 17th April 2007
HOUSTON, April 16 (Reuters) - Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Monday he may have a new job soon.
He said he was involved in discussions to create a Switzerland-based global forum to discuss and improve humanitarian assistance.
"There is a discussion going on about this type of issue, a global humanitarian forum, working with the Swiss government, that will bring together once a year major players in the humanitarian world," Annan told reporters before a speech to the Brilliant Lecture Series of Houston.
Participants would "discuss visions on humanitarian assistance, humanitarian intervention" and share "experiences on how we've dealt with the mega-disasters from tsunami to Katrina to the Asian earthquake and, really, pool our efforts to have greater impact on these disasters," said the 69-year-old native of Ghana.
Recent news reports from Switzerland have said Annan, who left his U.N. post at the end of 2006, would head the organization and that it would be modeled after the World Economic Forum that brings together major financial figures each year in Davos, Switzerland.
He did not discuss the project in detail but said planning was moving along.
"It's pretty advanced but the formal announcement hasn't been made," Annan said.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
He said he was involved in discussions to create a Switzerland-based global forum to discuss and improve humanitarian assistance.
"There is a discussion going on about this type of issue, a global humanitarian forum, working with the Swiss government, that will bring together once a year major players in the humanitarian world," Annan told reporters before a speech to the Brilliant Lecture Series of Houston.
Participants would "discuss visions on humanitarian assistance, humanitarian intervention" and share "experiences on how we've dealt with the mega-disasters from tsunami to Katrina to the Asian earthquake and, really, pool our efforts to have greater impact on these disasters," said the 69-year-old native of Ghana.
Recent news reports from Switzerland have said Annan, who left his U.N. post at the end of 2006, would head the organization and that it would be modeled after the World Economic Forum that brings together major financial figures each year in Davos, Switzerland.
He did not discuss the project in detail but said planning was moving along.
"It's pretty advanced but the formal announcement hasn't been made," Annan said.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Who's on Planet Socialite - The New Zealand Herald - 24th June 2008
If you're new to the Auckland social scene, here's a quick guide to who's who on Planet Socialite.
1. NAME: Gilda Kirkpatrick
STATUS: Queen of the scene. Perched at the pinnacle of the Auckland circuit from her castle on Paritai, Gilda has it all: money, status and power.
STYLE: Glitz and glamour.
RANKING:1
2. NAME: Amanda Hotchin
STATUS: Widely regarded as a "nice party girl" - code for boring - Hotchin is Kirkpatrick's rival and infinitely richer according to the NBR Rich List, though that's dismissed among the echelons of the old-money set, who are known for playing down their reported wealth despite parading it in Bentleys, jewels and first-class fares.
STYLE: Chic sophisticate.
RANKING: 2
3. NAME: Roxane Horton
STATUS: The Queen Rania of the charity circuit. Gorgeous, glossy, educated (masters degree from Ivy League college) and mother-of-two. Married to Matthew Horton, she is the Chair of the Friends of the Liggins Institute.
STYLE: Understated elegance.
RANKING: 3
4. NAME: Gretchen Hawkesby
STATUS: Billionaire daughter. You'd be forgiven for thinking Graeme Hart's little girl is a right spoilt brat but you'd be wrong. Married to Kate's bro Duncan, this mother-of-four oozes common sense and charm.
STYLE: Royal country casual
RANKING: 4
5. NAME: Annabel Fay
STATUS: The one with a job. Singer/songwriter signed to EMI with a debut album out and another on the way. She opened for Westlife and partied with Bono and The Edge at her family digs on "the Island" (Mercury) in 2006.
STYLE: Rock chick chic
RANKING: 5
NAME: Pearl Going
STATUS: Gilda 2009? Wide-eyed newbie who's bringing a dose of Park Ave princess to Auckland with her own range of designer jeans and ethical handbags. Tres Tinsley. She's touted as pretender to the Gilda crown.
STYLE: Demure and casual.
RANKING: Yet to be ranked.
A PEARL IN THE SOCIALITE SET
The girl on everyone's lips at the moment is gorgeous young socialite Pearl Going (pictured above - far right). She's the It girl du jour. The hottest property on the party circuit. And she's determined to leave her mark.
She texts me - would I like to meet. I'm curious, I've heard a lot about Ms Going, rumours she had dated Richie McCaw, sailed with Richard Branson, is chums with NYC society queen Tinsley Mortimer. The answers, I learn later, are no to the Richies, but yes, she is friends with the Tinz.
We agree to Ponsonby cafe Bambina. She arrives bearing a Starbucks flask of piping hot coffee. I'd have thought bringing your own coffee to a coffee house is a big no-no in Socialite Cafe etiquette.
I like her immediately. She's whippet-thin with piercing blue eyes. Fashion is her game, and like Park Avenue princess Tinsley, Going has her own handbag line. They're made from biodegradable pleather, she tells me.
And then there's the designer jeans collection - but they're only sold in LA, she says. They're too expensive for this market. Come Fashion Week in September, Going will be behind the Eco Show, a runway show dedicated to ethical fashion. She's signing up designers now to create specific pieces.
Pearl's a socialite with a purpose - an oxymoron, you ask? Apparently not. Roxane Horton (No. 3 in the Spy socialite ranking) heads the Friends of the Liggins Institute; Annabel Fay is a successful singer-songwriter paving the way for female musos.
Comments
Greg Tingle
Sometimes it seems everyone is a socialite or a celebrity these days. We're all getting our 15 minutes. Andy in New York was right. It's great to see that some are experts on the "currency of celebrity" and putting it to good use. Public thank you to Bono, Sean Penn and Faye Dunaway for helping out my mate, Donny Paterson with his work, resulting in 'The Third Wave'. Socialites and celebrities with just as much substance as style, does it for me, and I suspect many more in and around media and philanthropic circles.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
1. NAME: Gilda Kirkpatrick
STATUS: Queen of the scene. Perched at the pinnacle of the Auckland circuit from her castle on Paritai, Gilda has it all: money, status and power.
STYLE: Glitz and glamour.
RANKING:1
2. NAME: Amanda Hotchin
STATUS: Widely regarded as a "nice party girl" - code for boring - Hotchin is Kirkpatrick's rival and infinitely richer according to the NBR Rich List, though that's dismissed among the echelons of the old-money set, who are known for playing down their reported wealth despite parading it in Bentleys, jewels and first-class fares.
STYLE: Chic sophisticate.
RANKING: 2
3. NAME: Roxane Horton
STATUS: The Queen Rania of the charity circuit. Gorgeous, glossy, educated (masters degree from Ivy League college) and mother-of-two. Married to Matthew Horton, she is the Chair of the Friends of the Liggins Institute.
STYLE: Understated elegance.
RANKING: 3
4. NAME: Gretchen Hawkesby
STATUS: Billionaire daughter. You'd be forgiven for thinking Graeme Hart's little girl is a right spoilt brat but you'd be wrong. Married to Kate's bro Duncan, this mother-of-four oozes common sense and charm.
STYLE: Royal country casual
RANKING: 4
5. NAME: Annabel Fay
STATUS: The one with a job. Singer/songwriter signed to EMI with a debut album out and another on the way. She opened for Westlife and partied with Bono and The Edge at her family digs on "the Island" (Mercury) in 2006.
STYLE: Rock chick chic
RANKING: 5
NAME: Pearl Going
STATUS: Gilda 2009? Wide-eyed newbie who's bringing a dose of Park Ave princess to Auckland with her own range of designer jeans and ethical handbags. Tres Tinsley. She's touted as pretender to the Gilda crown.
STYLE: Demure and casual.
RANKING: Yet to be ranked.
A PEARL IN THE SOCIALITE SET
The girl on everyone's lips at the moment is gorgeous young socialite Pearl Going (pictured above - far right). She's the It girl du jour. The hottest property on the party circuit. And she's determined to leave her mark.
She texts me - would I like to meet. I'm curious, I've heard a lot about Ms Going, rumours she had dated Richie McCaw, sailed with Richard Branson, is chums with NYC society queen Tinsley Mortimer. The answers, I learn later, are no to the Richies, but yes, she is friends with the Tinz.
We agree to Ponsonby cafe Bambina. She arrives bearing a Starbucks flask of piping hot coffee. I'd have thought bringing your own coffee to a coffee house is a big no-no in Socialite Cafe etiquette.
I like her immediately. She's whippet-thin with piercing blue eyes. Fashion is her game, and like Park Avenue princess Tinsley, Going has her own handbag line. They're made from biodegradable pleather, she tells me.
And then there's the designer jeans collection - but they're only sold in LA, she says. They're too expensive for this market. Come Fashion Week in September, Going will be behind the Eco Show, a runway show dedicated to ethical fashion. She's signing up designers now to create specific pieces.
Pearl's a socialite with a purpose - an oxymoron, you ask? Apparently not. Roxane Horton (No. 3 in the Spy socialite ranking) heads the Friends of the Liggins Institute; Annabel Fay is a successful singer-songwriter paving the way for female musos.
Comments
Greg Tingle
Sometimes it seems everyone is a socialite or a celebrity these days. We're all getting our 15 minutes. Andy in New York was right. It's great to see that some are experts on the "currency of celebrity" and putting it to good use. Public thank you to Bono, Sean Penn and Faye Dunaway for helping out my mate, Donny Paterson with his work, resulting in 'The Third Wave'. Socialites and celebrities with just as much substance as style, does it for me, and I suspect many more in and around media and philanthropic circles.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
ROC PRESENTS LENDS A HAND
The St Vincent De Paul Corporate Lunch '08 went off with a huge bang, raising much needed funds for a well deserved cause!
ROC PRESENTS donated over $1,500 worth of Harper Collins books, featuring titles from Gordan Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Andrew Denton!
Other donations from ROC included two tickets to the AFL Footy Show and four VIP Memberships for the Exclusive Ticketing Company (Valued at $400 each).
We look forward to supporting the next Pillars of Society event and hope it will be as successful as the local community had made this year!
Media Man Australia Profiles
St Vincent de Paul
ROC Presents
Charity
Social and Community Entreprneurs
ROC PRESENTS donated over $1,500 worth of Harper Collins books, featuring titles from Gordan Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Andrew Denton!
Other donations from ROC included two tickets to the AFL Footy Show and four VIP Memberships for the Exclusive Ticketing Company (Valued at $400 each).
We look forward to supporting the next Pillars of Society event and hope it will be as successful as the local community had made this year!
Media Man Australia Profiles
St Vincent de Paul
ROC Presents
Charity
Social and Community Entreprneurs
Meet the 'philanthropreneurs', by Stephanie Strom - SMH / New York Times - 30th December 2006
A new generation of philanthropists has stepped forward, mostly young billionaires who have reaped the benefits of capitalism and believe it can be applied in the service of charity. They are "philanthropreneurs", driven to do good and have their profit too.
Among them are eBay's founder, Pierre Omidyar, who wants to use investment capital as well as donations to expand the micro loan industry like Bangladesh's ground-breaking Grameen Bank. Stephen Case, the co-founder of America Online, is investing $US250 million ($318 million) in companies that help consumers gain control of their health care. Richard Branson of the Virgin group is doing his bit, too, working to create businesses that have the socially beneficial aspects of a charity but produce income to sustain themselves.
Young companies are involved, too: when Google announced its philanthropic effort this year, it unveiled a venture-capital fund rather than a foundation.
The approach of the philanthropreneurs reflects the culture of the business that brought them their wealth: information technology, with its ethos that everyone should have access to information. By their way of thinking, the marketplace can have the same level-the-playing-field impact, and supply the world's poor with basic needs like food, sanitation and shelter.
"More and more people are asking who else is going to finance doing good if government isn't," says Alan Abramson, director of the non-profit sector and philanthropy program at the Aspen Institute, a Washington public policy think tank. "These guys have first-hand knowledge of the market's power, and they're asking themselves why they can't make money and tackle some of the problems once addressed primarily by government at the same time."
It sounds simple, but the idea of such hybrid philanthropy is upsetting long-held conventions. These new philanthropists view the foundation model, built on the fortunes of industrial titans like Carnegie and Rockefeller, as hidebound and often ineffective. They have an urge to change the world, and argue that in some cases only the speed of capitalism is fast enough.
"We need to be open to bigger, bolder reform because the hard truth is Philanthropy 1.0 hasn't worked well enough," Case told a group of foundation executives this year. "If you'll forgive the computer metaphors, our system needs an upgrade."
An upgrade had been in the works courtesy of Bill Gates, the Microsoft chairman, who had already leveraged the power of the IT industry in creating the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with its tens of billions of dollars in assets from him and, more recently, from investment guru Warren Buffett. The Gates Foundation has led the way in focusing on problems of the underdeveloped world, like disease. But it is mostly a traditional charity, writ large.
What the philanthropreneurs have in mind is something different, and it is producing some confusion, as evidenced by an exchange in September on The Late Show between host David Letterman and Ted Turner, founder of CNN and a man who knows something about melding business and philanthropy.
Turner was asked about a plan of another philanthropreneur, Richard Branson, to "donate" as Letterman put it, $US3 billion to develop greener fuels.
Turner cut him off: It's not a donation, he said, it's an investment. "He's probably going to make more off that investment than he has in everything else," he said.
Experts in philanthropy are not so confused, but they are not bowled over, either. "I come at this from at least a wonderment of what are the advantages the melded or hybrid model brings," said Mark Rosenman, a professor of public service at the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati. "Though I have no problem with philanthropy and socially responsible business being joined, I do have one with a for-profit enterprise being called philanthropy."
"I see no clear reasons to begin to develop corporate structures that need to consider themselves more closely aligned with philanthropic purposes," he added.
He said such structures already exist, citing businesses like the Body Shop, which uses its stores and products to inform consumers about human rights and environmental issues and trades with indigenous peoples for supplies and materials.
Stephen Case points to the National Geographic Society, a non-profit group that is sustained by sales of everything from magazines to toys.
"It has basically become a billion-dollar business set up as a non-profit," he said. "It doesn't have to focus on collecting money or holding black-tie balls to raise money because its sales are sustaining its mission of educating the world about the world."
So far, there is little criticism of the hybrid proponents, perhaps because they seem to have little interest in capitalising on the tax benefits of their philanthropy. Google, for example, will pay taxes should its new fund produce returns, and Pierre Omidyar forgoes about $US1 million in tax benefits by mixing philanthropy with business.
Ted Turner is a relatively old hand at philanthropy, having stunned the world in 1997 with a $US1 billion pledge to the United Nations, the largest single pledge ever at the time. But he shares the philanthropreneurs' impatience with the lines drawn by legal, regulatory and tax regimes between business and philanthropy.
"There's no way you can invest in polio vaccines and make money," he said. "But developing solar panels, that has profit potential and it's good for the environment. Certain areas of making the world better do lend themselves very comfortably to for-profit operations. Why should we be afraid of that?"
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Among them are eBay's founder, Pierre Omidyar, who wants to use investment capital as well as donations to expand the micro loan industry like Bangladesh's ground-breaking Grameen Bank. Stephen Case, the co-founder of America Online, is investing $US250 million ($318 million) in companies that help consumers gain control of their health care. Richard Branson of the Virgin group is doing his bit, too, working to create businesses that have the socially beneficial aspects of a charity but produce income to sustain themselves.
Young companies are involved, too: when Google announced its philanthropic effort this year, it unveiled a venture-capital fund rather than a foundation.
The approach of the philanthropreneurs reflects the culture of the business that brought them their wealth: information technology, with its ethos that everyone should have access to information. By their way of thinking, the marketplace can have the same level-the-playing-field impact, and supply the world's poor with basic needs like food, sanitation and shelter.
"More and more people are asking who else is going to finance doing good if government isn't," says Alan Abramson, director of the non-profit sector and philanthropy program at the Aspen Institute, a Washington public policy think tank. "These guys have first-hand knowledge of the market's power, and they're asking themselves why they can't make money and tackle some of the problems once addressed primarily by government at the same time."
It sounds simple, but the idea of such hybrid philanthropy is upsetting long-held conventions. These new philanthropists view the foundation model, built on the fortunes of industrial titans like Carnegie and Rockefeller, as hidebound and often ineffective. They have an urge to change the world, and argue that in some cases only the speed of capitalism is fast enough.
"We need to be open to bigger, bolder reform because the hard truth is Philanthropy 1.0 hasn't worked well enough," Case told a group of foundation executives this year. "If you'll forgive the computer metaphors, our system needs an upgrade."
An upgrade had been in the works courtesy of Bill Gates, the Microsoft chairman, who had already leveraged the power of the IT industry in creating the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with its tens of billions of dollars in assets from him and, more recently, from investment guru Warren Buffett. The Gates Foundation has led the way in focusing on problems of the underdeveloped world, like disease. But it is mostly a traditional charity, writ large.
What the philanthropreneurs have in mind is something different, and it is producing some confusion, as evidenced by an exchange in September on The Late Show between host David Letterman and Ted Turner, founder of CNN and a man who knows something about melding business and philanthropy.
Turner was asked about a plan of another philanthropreneur, Richard Branson, to "donate" as Letterman put it, $US3 billion to develop greener fuels.
Turner cut him off: It's not a donation, he said, it's an investment. "He's probably going to make more off that investment than he has in everything else," he said.
Experts in philanthropy are not so confused, but they are not bowled over, either. "I come at this from at least a wonderment of what are the advantages the melded or hybrid model brings," said Mark Rosenman, a professor of public service at the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati. "Though I have no problem with philanthropy and socially responsible business being joined, I do have one with a for-profit enterprise being called philanthropy."
"I see no clear reasons to begin to develop corporate structures that need to consider themselves more closely aligned with philanthropic purposes," he added.
He said such structures already exist, citing businesses like the Body Shop, which uses its stores and products to inform consumers about human rights and environmental issues and trades with indigenous peoples for supplies and materials.
Stephen Case points to the National Geographic Society, a non-profit group that is sustained by sales of everything from magazines to toys.
"It has basically become a billion-dollar business set up as a non-profit," he said. "It doesn't have to focus on collecting money or holding black-tie balls to raise money because its sales are sustaining its mission of educating the world about the world."
So far, there is little criticism of the hybrid proponents, perhaps because they seem to have little interest in capitalising on the tax benefits of their philanthropy. Google, for example, will pay taxes should its new fund produce returns, and Pierre Omidyar forgoes about $US1 million in tax benefits by mixing philanthropy with business.
Ted Turner is a relatively old hand at philanthropy, having stunned the world in 1997 with a $US1 billion pledge to the United Nations, the largest single pledge ever at the time. But he shares the philanthropreneurs' impatience with the lines drawn by legal, regulatory and tax regimes between business and philanthropy.
"There's no way you can invest in polio vaccines and make money," he said. "But developing solar panels, that has profit potential and it's good for the environment. Certain areas of making the world better do lend themselves very comfortably to for-profit operations. Why should we be afraid of that?"
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Mandela forming charitable council on birthday - AP - 16th July 2007
Global ‘elders’ panel to tackle world’s issues; South African leader turns 89
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Nelson Mandela celebrates his 89th birthday Wednesday, launching a humanitarian campaign along with former President Jimmy Carter, ex-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other “elders” of the global village.
The initiative stems from an idea by British entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel to create a world council of elders to tackle issues such as conflict, AIDS and global warming.
“This group of international leaders will share how they intend to work together to contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity in addressing some of the world’s toughest problems,” organizers said in a statement.
Branson and Gabriel, who founded an international human rights organization and championed the anti-apartheid cause, were expected to attend Wednesday’s event, part of a week of festivities for Mandela’s birthday.
A children’s party that has become an annual fixture wraps things up July 24. Before that, events will feature Bill Clinton and soccer legend Pele, who will play in a special star-studded match to honor Mandela.
A leading role
Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against apartheid. He was released in 1990 to lead negotiations to end decades of racist white rule and elected president in South Africa’s first free elections in 1994. He left office in 1999, but has continued to take a leading role in the fight against poverty, illiteracy and AIDS in Africa.
Clinton will open an exhibit on Thursday that focuses on the late Chief Albert Luthuli, an anti-apartheid campaigner who won the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize, and Mandela, who was given the honor in 1993.
Luthuli was the leader of the now-governing African National Congress when the group embarked on armed struggle against the racist apartheid regime. Mandela was the ANC’s leader three decades later as it negotiated a peace settlement with the nationalist government.
On Sunday, Annan will deliver the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture. The first in the series was given by Clinton on July 19, 2003. Others who have delivered lectures include 1994 Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kenyan environmentalist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai and South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki.
Charitable soccer game
Pele and soccer star Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon head a list of more than 50 players taking part in “90 Minutes for Mandela.”
The match, to be played on Wednesday in Cape Town, will pit Africa against the rest of the world. Proceeds are earmarked for social programs, including Mandela’s campaign against AIDS.
FIFA organized a similar all-star match in 1999 to honor Mandela when he stepped down as South African president.
Before the match, a ceremony will be held to honor a soccer league formed by political prisoners on Robben Island, where Mandela was incarcerated for 18 of the 27 years he spent in jail.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter will confer honorary FIFA membership on the Makana Football Association, which Mandela, separated from his comrades, used to watch playing from his cell window until prison authorities built a wall to further cut him off.
Makana, a local name for Robben Island, comes from a 19th century warrior leader of the Xhosa, the tribe to which Mandela belongs. The British banished Makana to Robben Island in 1819 and he died trying to escape.
Mandela has long recognized the importance of sports in helping to promote reconciliation. He appearing before a crowd of mostly white fans at the Rugby World Cup final in 1995 wearing a green and yellow South African team jersey, sending a powerful message to white South Africans that he was serious about racial reconciliation. Mandela also was instrumental in persuading FIFA to award South Africa the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, a first for Africa.
Media Man Australia Profiles
The Elders
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Nelson Mandela celebrates his 89th birthday Wednesday, launching a humanitarian campaign along with former President Jimmy Carter, ex-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other “elders” of the global village.
The initiative stems from an idea by British entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel to create a world council of elders to tackle issues such as conflict, AIDS and global warming.
“This group of international leaders will share how they intend to work together to contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity in addressing some of the world’s toughest problems,” organizers said in a statement.
Branson and Gabriel, who founded an international human rights organization and championed the anti-apartheid cause, were expected to attend Wednesday’s event, part of a week of festivities for Mandela’s birthday.
A children’s party that has become an annual fixture wraps things up July 24. Before that, events will feature Bill Clinton and soccer legend Pele, who will play in a special star-studded match to honor Mandela.
A leading role
Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against apartheid. He was released in 1990 to lead negotiations to end decades of racist white rule and elected president in South Africa’s first free elections in 1994. He left office in 1999, but has continued to take a leading role in the fight against poverty, illiteracy and AIDS in Africa.
Clinton will open an exhibit on Thursday that focuses on the late Chief Albert Luthuli, an anti-apartheid campaigner who won the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize, and Mandela, who was given the honor in 1993.
Luthuli was the leader of the now-governing African National Congress when the group embarked on armed struggle against the racist apartheid regime. Mandela was the ANC’s leader three decades later as it negotiated a peace settlement with the nationalist government.
On Sunday, Annan will deliver the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture. The first in the series was given by Clinton on July 19, 2003. Others who have delivered lectures include 1994 Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kenyan environmentalist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai and South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki.
Charitable soccer game
Pele and soccer star Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon head a list of more than 50 players taking part in “90 Minutes for Mandela.”
The match, to be played on Wednesday in Cape Town, will pit Africa against the rest of the world. Proceeds are earmarked for social programs, including Mandela’s campaign against AIDS.
FIFA organized a similar all-star match in 1999 to honor Mandela when he stepped down as South African president.
Before the match, a ceremony will be held to honor a soccer league formed by political prisoners on Robben Island, where Mandela was incarcerated for 18 of the 27 years he spent in jail.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter will confer honorary FIFA membership on the Makana Football Association, which Mandela, separated from his comrades, used to watch playing from his cell window until prison authorities built a wall to further cut him off.
Makana, a local name for Robben Island, comes from a 19th century warrior leader of the Xhosa, the tribe to which Mandela belongs. The British banished Makana to Robben Island in 1819 and he died trying to escape.
Mandela has long recognized the importance of sports in helping to promote reconciliation. He appearing before a crowd of mostly white fans at the Rugby World Cup final in 1995 wearing a green and yellow South African team jersey, sending a powerful message to white South Africans that he was serious about racial reconciliation. Mandela also was instrumental in persuading FIFA to award South Africa the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, a first for Africa.
Media Man Australia Profiles
The Elders
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Bosses become homeless for charity - The Sydney Morning Herald - 20th June 2008
Armed only with a sleeping bag and a cardboard box, some of Sydney's top business executives have braved the rain and cold and slept rough on the street to help raise money for charity.
About 60 CEOs and business leaders, including Steve Martin from the Real Estate Institute of Australia, Kell and Rigby CEO James Kell, along with federal Labor MP David Bradbury, all queued for a hot cup of soup at a food van and slept in a cardboard box underneath the rides at Sydney's Luna Park.
Event organiser St Vincent De Paul CEO John Picot said he hoped some of Sydney's richest men would be confronted with the realities of homelessness.
"The experience that we and the other CEOs will have exposes us in a very, very small way to the experience of homelessness," Mr Picot told AAP as he bunked down for the night.
"Because, at the end of the day, we'll go to bed knowing that in the morning there'll be something hot for us to eat. Knowing we can go home or go to our workplace and our lives will return to total normality and security and safety.
"These are the issues facing homeless people every night of the year."
Mr Picot said he was leading by example, exposing himself to the elements on the verandah underneath the Tumble Bug ride, but he had invested in a thick sleeping bag.
"Last year, it was the coldest night of the year in Sydney," he said.
"I borrowed a bag from one of my colleagues ... but it was a bit thin. This year I've got one that's a bit beefier."
Mr Picot said everyone should worry about Sydney's homelessness.
"With the sharp increase in costs of living, we are now seeing one in 200 Australians homeless and alarmingly the average homeless person is a 35-year-old male," he said.
The leaders raised money by collecting sponsorship.
Volunteers from St Vincent De Paul spent the evening speaking to the CEOs about the work they do, while former homeless people told them about the challenges they face daily.
The event coincided with Vinnies' Winter Appeal which aims to raise funds and awareness of poverty in Sydney.
Media Man Australia Profiles
St Vincent De Paul
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
About 60 CEOs and business leaders, including Steve Martin from the Real Estate Institute of Australia, Kell and Rigby CEO James Kell, along with federal Labor MP David Bradbury, all queued for a hot cup of soup at a food van and slept in a cardboard box underneath the rides at Sydney's Luna Park.
Event organiser St Vincent De Paul CEO John Picot said he hoped some of Sydney's richest men would be confronted with the realities of homelessness.
"The experience that we and the other CEOs will have exposes us in a very, very small way to the experience of homelessness," Mr Picot told AAP as he bunked down for the night.
"Because, at the end of the day, we'll go to bed knowing that in the morning there'll be something hot for us to eat. Knowing we can go home or go to our workplace and our lives will return to total normality and security and safety.
"These are the issues facing homeless people every night of the year."
Mr Picot said he was leading by example, exposing himself to the elements on the verandah underneath the Tumble Bug ride, but he had invested in a thick sleeping bag.
"Last year, it was the coldest night of the year in Sydney," he said.
"I borrowed a bag from one of my colleagues ... but it was a bit thin. This year I've got one that's a bit beefier."
Mr Picot said everyone should worry about Sydney's homelessness.
"With the sharp increase in costs of living, we are now seeing one in 200 Australians homeless and alarmingly the average homeless person is a 35-year-old male," he said.
The leaders raised money by collecting sponsorship.
Volunteers from St Vincent De Paul spent the evening speaking to the CEOs about the work they do, while former homeless people told them about the challenges they face daily.
The event coincided with Vinnies' Winter Appeal which aims to raise funds and awareness of poverty in Sydney.
Media Man Australia Profiles
St Vincent De Paul
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
A-list celebrities unite to support plight of widows around the world - The Asian News - 17th June 2008
Next Monday will mark a significant day of awareness for the plight facing widows around the world, as The Loomba Trust stages the International Widows Day Concert in London’s Trafalgar Square.
The capital’s most popular location for open air concerts and public gatherings will play host to over 300 A-list, international celebrities, VIPs and dignitaries, who will be joined in unison with members of the public, to raise the unheard voice of isolated widow communities across the globe.
The free event will bring together on stage a world class and eclectic line-up of top bands and celebrated artists from across the globe in what promises to be one of the UK’s most dynamic summer concerts, highlighting a cause that is beginning to draw global attention.
Raj Loomba, Founder and Chairman of The Loomba Trust, a UK-based charity established in 1997, whose patrons include Cherie Blair, HRH Prince of Wales, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Mark Tully, Alastair Stewart, Yoko Ono and Joanna Lumley, has a personal mission to highlight the struggles and stigma facing widows and their children from all over the world and to provide a focus for effective action.
Loomba’s direct association and impetus to establish the Trust was inspired by his mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, who was widowed at the age of 37 in 1954 and single-handedly raised seven young children.
Widows in many developing countries face extreme hardship and often bring up their children in poverty. The Trust relentlessly aims to help remove the stigma associated with losing a husband, providing support with essential needs such as healthcare and education. Through its work, The Loomba Trust is actualising one of the most important and effective ways of fighting global poverty and injustice - a key factor in achieving the United Nations Millennium Goals. It is the mission of The Loomba Trust to harness the support of the United Nations, to eradicate the social injustices and hardships facing the developing world’s widow communities.
The Loomba Trust is currently educating over 3,600 children of poor widows in India and supporting their mothers to live a life of dignity. As part of its global work, it is supporting a community building project for 1,500 HIV orphans in South Africa, in partnership with Virgin Unite, Sir Richard Branson’s charity. The Trust has become a global Partner with HRH Prince of Wales’ charity, Youth Business International, and has launched the Loomba Entrepreneur Programmes to empower young widows by setting up businesses for them in Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Join celebrities and supporters alike at the International Widows Day musical extravaganza, taking place on 23rd June 2008 in Trafalgar Square, London.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Unite
Richard Branson
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
The capital’s most popular location for open air concerts and public gatherings will play host to over 300 A-list, international celebrities, VIPs and dignitaries, who will be joined in unison with members of the public, to raise the unheard voice of isolated widow communities across the globe.
The free event will bring together on stage a world class and eclectic line-up of top bands and celebrated artists from across the globe in what promises to be one of the UK’s most dynamic summer concerts, highlighting a cause that is beginning to draw global attention.
Raj Loomba, Founder and Chairman of The Loomba Trust, a UK-based charity established in 1997, whose patrons include Cherie Blair, HRH Prince of Wales, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Mark Tully, Alastair Stewart, Yoko Ono and Joanna Lumley, has a personal mission to highlight the struggles and stigma facing widows and their children from all over the world and to provide a focus for effective action.
Loomba’s direct association and impetus to establish the Trust was inspired by his mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, who was widowed at the age of 37 in 1954 and single-handedly raised seven young children.
Widows in many developing countries face extreme hardship and often bring up their children in poverty. The Trust relentlessly aims to help remove the stigma associated with losing a husband, providing support with essential needs such as healthcare and education. Through its work, The Loomba Trust is actualising one of the most important and effective ways of fighting global poverty and injustice - a key factor in achieving the United Nations Millennium Goals. It is the mission of The Loomba Trust to harness the support of the United Nations, to eradicate the social injustices and hardships facing the developing world’s widow communities.
The Loomba Trust is currently educating over 3,600 children of poor widows in India and supporting their mothers to live a life of dignity. As part of its global work, it is supporting a community building project for 1,500 HIV orphans in South Africa, in partnership with Virgin Unite, Sir Richard Branson’s charity. The Trust has become a global Partner with HRH Prince of Wales’ charity, Youth Business International, and has launched the Loomba Entrepreneur Programmes to empower young widows by setting up businesses for them in Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Join celebrities and supporters alike at the International Widows Day musical extravaganza, taking place on 23rd June 2008 in Trafalgar Square, London.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Unite
Richard Branson
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Charities reject Roberta Williams cash - The Daily Telegraph - 17th June 2008
Charities have snubbed money from gangland celebrity Roberta Williams - before it's even been offered.
The Mercury reports the ex-wife of convicted murderer Carl Williams, whose activities were dramatised in the hit series Underbelly, will host a $100-a-head dinner at the Hobart Function and Conference Centre on June 26.
The promoters say the money raised may go to charity.
Gallery: Scenese from Underbelly
Nine to Produce new Underbelly series
Event organiser and manager of Moonah's Xtreme Physique gym, Michael Tonner, said the proceeds would “probably end up being the Cancer Council,” once Ms Williams’s flights, accommodation and expenses had been covered.
Tasmanian Cancer Council chief executive Lawson Ride said his organisation would reject any donation that could be seen to be the proceeds of crime.
"If such a donation was received, the board would send it straight back," Mr Ride said.
Other charities contacted by the Mercury, including Variety and Camp Quality, said they too would steer clear of tainted cash, which could be anything up to $20,000.
"We will have nothing to do with her, thanks," said Camp Quality state manager Peter Crosswell.
"Most of us operate on a moralistic philosophy – I can't see how anyone could accept money being made from a person like her."
Police have warned that crime figures profiting from their notoriety could lose their loot under asset seizure laws.
Mr Tonner said he had approached Ms Williams after the runaway success of the Channel 9 series Underbelly.
"I think there will be a lot of people interested," he said.
"Underbelly really had people glued to the telly and I will be very intrigued just to talk to someone who was a part of that lifestyle."
Her manager Andrew Hawkins said yesterday: "She is looking at her own charity initiative over the next few months."
Xtreme Physique's owners, brothers Wayne and Shaune Howlett, have their own chequered past.
In 2006 the weightlifters received two-year suspensions from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority. Wayne was stripped of his 100kg national title after returning a positive drug test for steroids.
Ms Williams has served six months' jail for ecstasy trafficking.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
The Mercury reports the ex-wife of convicted murderer Carl Williams, whose activities were dramatised in the hit series Underbelly, will host a $100-a-head dinner at the Hobart Function and Conference Centre on June 26.
The promoters say the money raised may go to charity.
Gallery: Scenese from Underbelly
Nine to Produce new Underbelly series
Event organiser and manager of Moonah's Xtreme Physique gym, Michael Tonner, said the proceeds would “probably end up being the Cancer Council,” once Ms Williams’s flights, accommodation and expenses had been covered.
Tasmanian Cancer Council chief executive Lawson Ride said his organisation would reject any donation that could be seen to be the proceeds of crime.
"If such a donation was received, the board would send it straight back," Mr Ride said.
Other charities contacted by the Mercury, including Variety and Camp Quality, said they too would steer clear of tainted cash, which could be anything up to $20,000.
"We will have nothing to do with her, thanks," said Camp Quality state manager Peter Crosswell.
"Most of us operate on a moralistic philosophy – I can't see how anyone could accept money being made from a person like her."
Police have warned that crime figures profiting from their notoriety could lose their loot under asset seizure laws.
Mr Tonner said he had approached Ms Williams after the runaway success of the Channel 9 series Underbelly.
"I think there will be a lot of people interested," he said.
"Underbelly really had people glued to the telly and I will be very intrigued just to talk to someone who was a part of that lifestyle."
Her manager Andrew Hawkins said yesterday: "She is looking at her own charity initiative over the next few months."
Xtreme Physique's owners, brothers Wayne and Shaune Howlett, have their own chequered past.
In 2006 the weightlifters received two-year suspensions from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority. Wayne was stripped of his 100kg national title after returning a positive drug test for steroids.
Ms Williams has served six months' jail for ecstasy trafficking.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Fringe benefits changes to hit low paid workers - ABC News - 17th June 2008
The Federal Government has been warned its planned crackdown on fringe benefits for high income earners will hit the low paid as well.
Senior ministers are being bombarded with emails from charity and community sector workers who stand to lose up to $50 a week in family and child care payments because of a tax measure redefining what constitutes "income".
Amid claims some 200,000 low income families will be left worse off, the Government is now trying to stem the damage, promising to look into the effect on the "working families" it pledged to support.
From the Prime Minister down, the Government has made much of its focus on helping "working families", touting that they will be $52 a week better off under recent Budget measures.
But charities, benevolent institutions, domestic violence services, non-profit hospitals and ambulance services are up in arms over a tax measure that will hit so-called working families hard, and in some cases, wipe out the tax cut altogether.
Frank Quinlan, the chief executive of Catholic Social Services, has told the AM program that the new treatment of fringe benefits tax could have a very nasty effect.
"In some cases for workers earning about the $40,000 a year mark they might well be $40 a week worse off which is a very substantial impact on people who are often doing some of the hardest work in the charities and communities sector," he says.
Salary packages
The sector uses salary packaging to make up for poor pay rates. Now the Government's changing the way it calculates income for family benefits. So a charity worker who's paid $36,000, including salary packaging of $16,000, will be treated as though they earn $50,000. That means less in family and child care payments.
Linda White from the Australian Services Union says it's the result of a policy from the previous government, but one which Labor supported, that comes into effect in a fortnight.
"The net effect has got to be that people will vote with their feet and march out of these services not for reasons that they don't want to work there but economically they cannot afford to feed their families any more," she says.
The union is waging a campaign, clogging the in-boxes of three cabinet ministers with hundreds of emails.
"We're hoping that they can hear what we're saying because it's going to affect people from the 1st of July and it's going to see people leave their jobs that they love," Ms White says.
More than 500,000 people work in the community welfare sector. The union says all those with children, as many as 200,000 will be affected.
One source has told AM the "classic working family will get it in the neck".
The Families and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin says the Government was only recently made aware of the problem.
"We've certainly asked the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services to look into the issue and to provide us with advice as to house we might address this issue," Ms Macklin told AM.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Senior ministers are being bombarded with emails from charity and community sector workers who stand to lose up to $50 a week in family and child care payments because of a tax measure redefining what constitutes "income".
Amid claims some 200,000 low income families will be left worse off, the Government is now trying to stem the damage, promising to look into the effect on the "working families" it pledged to support.
From the Prime Minister down, the Government has made much of its focus on helping "working families", touting that they will be $52 a week better off under recent Budget measures.
But charities, benevolent institutions, domestic violence services, non-profit hospitals and ambulance services are up in arms over a tax measure that will hit so-called working families hard, and in some cases, wipe out the tax cut altogether.
Frank Quinlan, the chief executive of Catholic Social Services, has told the AM program that the new treatment of fringe benefits tax could have a very nasty effect.
"In some cases for workers earning about the $40,000 a year mark they might well be $40 a week worse off which is a very substantial impact on people who are often doing some of the hardest work in the charities and communities sector," he says.
Salary packages
The sector uses salary packaging to make up for poor pay rates. Now the Government's changing the way it calculates income for family benefits. So a charity worker who's paid $36,000, including salary packaging of $16,000, will be treated as though they earn $50,000. That means less in family and child care payments.
Linda White from the Australian Services Union says it's the result of a policy from the previous government, but one which Labor supported, that comes into effect in a fortnight.
"The net effect has got to be that people will vote with their feet and march out of these services not for reasons that they don't want to work there but economically they cannot afford to feed their families any more," she says.
The union is waging a campaign, clogging the in-boxes of three cabinet ministers with hundreds of emails.
"We're hoping that they can hear what we're saying because it's going to affect people from the 1st of July and it's going to see people leave their jobs that they love," Ms White says.
More than 500,000 people work in the community welfare sector. The union says all those with children, as many as 200,000 will be affected.
One source has told AM the "classic working family will get it in the neck".
The Families and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin says the Government was only recently made aware of the problem.
"We've certainly asked the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services to look into the issue and to provide us with advice as to house we might address this issue," Ms Macklin told AM.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
C31 - Still the thirty one! - Press Release
C31 - Melbourne’s community TV station is stronger than ever.
C31 is a viable, community business, which stands proudly on its own two feet.
The Victorian State Government, in co-operation with C31, is looking at new ways support community television in Melbourne and Geelong.
The Channel is also working closely with Senator Stephen Conroy and the new Federal Government to enable broadcast on the digital spectrum.
In the meantime, C31 continues to generate the vast majority of its revenue through ‘sponsorship’ announcements.
On-going success has enabled investment in infrastructure, including a significant boost in analogue signal strength. This means C31 is beamed clearly into more and more living rooms across Greater Melbourne and Geelong.
Over 95, first run, locally produced shows go to air each week and1.46 million people tune in each month.
C31 continues to provide invaluable training for industry professionals, both in front of and behind the camera.
Without a digital broadcast license, C31 is operating with one hand tied behinds its back. However, as digital take-up increases, C31’s audience refuses to switch over; more and more people are tuning in each month. Viewers continue to fall in love with the station that unearthed Rove, Hamish and Andy, Vasili, Peter Hellier, Jose Parelli, Salam Cafe and the fish.
There are no police, medical or courtroom dramas on C31.
C31 - The future is exciting.
C31 Quick Facts
• Started broadcasting in October 1994.
• Currently broadcasts over 95 first-run locally produced television programs every week.
• Reaches more than 1.46 million viewers each month – nearly a third of Melbourne’s population.
· C31 now transmits at 10kw from Mount Dandenong
Media contact: Jim Wright: (03) 9660 3131
Media Man Australia Profiles
Channel 31 Community TV
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
C31 is a viable, community business, which stands proudly on its own two feet.
The Victorian State Government, in co-operation with C31, is looking at new ways support community television in Melbourne and Geelong.
The Channel is also working closely with Senator Stephen Conroy and the new Federal Government to enable broadcast on the digital spectrum.
In the meantime, C31 continues to generate the vast majority of its revenue through ‘sponsorship’ announcements.
On-going success has enabled investment in infrastructure, including a significant boost in analogue signal strength. This means C31 is beamed clearly into more and more living rooms across Greater Melbourne and Geelong.
Over 95, first run, locally produced shows go to air each week and1.46 million people tune in each month.
C31 continues to provide invaluable training for industry professionals, both in front of and behind the camera.
Without a digital broadcast license, C31 is operating with one hand tied behinds its back. However, as digital take-up increases, C31’s audience refuses to switch over; more and more people are tuning in each month. Viewers continue to fall in love with the station that unearthed Rove, Hamish and Andy, Vasili, Peter Hellier, Jose Parelli, Salam Cafe and the fish.
There are no police, medical or courtroom dramas on C31.
C31 - The future is exciting.
C31 Quick Facts
• Started broadcasting in October 1994.
• Currently broadcasts over 95 first-run locally produced television programs every week.
• Reaches more than 1.46 million viewers each month – nearly a third of Melbourne’s population.
· C31 now transmits at 10kw from Mount Dandenong
Media contact: Jim Wright: (03) 9660 3131
Media Man Australia Profiles
Channel 31 Community TV
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Loose change, by James Cockington - The Sydney Morning Herald - 11th June 2008
GIVING IS GOOD
The Good Giving Guide, compiled by Lyn Amy and Mary Pearce and published by Penguin, provides details of Australia's 100 biggest charities, including finance information supplied by charity researchers Givewell. The book was largely inspired by Australians' proven history of helping those in need. "In the 12 months to January 2005, 87 per cent of us gave to a not-for-profit organisation," the authors claim. In that period, $5.7 billion was donated. Royalties from sales of the book ($26.95rrp) go to the Australian Charities Fund.
AND THE WINNER IS ...
Victoria's largest credit union, mecu, was awarded "Best New Entrant" in the Australia-New Zealand Corporate Responsibility Index. The announcement was made in front of the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, at the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development in Canberra. Forty companies took part in this year's index, including 12 new entrants. The index is assessed on a range of issues, including community investment, biodiversity, climate change, occupational health and safety and work-life balance.
SAFETY-FIRST INVESTING
Esanda has conducted research into Australian investment sentiment. The overall result is that despite the economic downturn, 97 per cent of Australians surveyed are still willing to invest. Of these, 43 per cent prefer property, 19 per cent prefer shares and debentures and 16 per cent prefer bank deposits. However 56 per cent said they prefer safer investments with a guaranteed but lower rate of return.
CASH BY NAME, CHEQUE BY NATURE
As mentioned on the Fun Facts segment on David Letterman's Late Show, Johnny Cash always paid by cheque.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Charity
Social and Community Entrepreneurs
The Good Giving Guide, compiled by Lyn Amy and Mary Pearce and published by Penguin, provides details of Australia's 100 biggest charities, including finance information supplied by charity researchers Givewell. The book was largely inspired by Australians' proven history of helping those in need. "In the 12 months to January 2005, 87 per cent of us gave to a not-for-profit organisation," the authors claim. In that period, $5.7 billion was donated. Royalties from sales of the book ($26.95rrp) go to the Australian Charities Fund.
AND THE WINNER IS ...
Victoria's largest credit union, mecu, was awarded "Best New Entrant" in the Australia-New Zealand Corporate Responsibility Index. The announcement was made in front of the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, at the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development in Canberra. Forty companies took part in this year's index, including 12 new entrants. The index is assessed on a range of issues, including community investment, biodiversity, climate change, occupational health and safety and work-life balance.
SAFETY-FIRST INVESTING
Esanda has conducted research into Australian investment sentiment. The overall result is that despite the economic downturn, 97 per cent of Australians surveyed are still willing to invest. Of these, 43 per cent prefer property, 19 per cent prefer shares and debentures and 16 per cent prefer bank deposits. However 56 per cent said they prefer safer investments with a guaranteed but lower rate of return.
CASH BY NAME, CHEQUE BY NATURE
As mentioned on the Fun Facts segment on David Letterman's Late Show, Johnny Cash always paid by cheque.
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