Girl on the Go: Your Business and Charity Events

Each year there are thousands of charity events held by individuals, organizations and businesses all over your city. With so many charities requiring funds to keep them out there helping people, it provides a variety to choose from depending on where we want to help, where our heart lies or what our business wants to support.

Why do companies hold charity events?

Charity functions are a great way for a company to reduce its tax bill, develop community relationships and improve employee relations.

Reducing the Tax Bill

Charitable donations over $2 are tax deductable and it is common for businesses to make large donations before the end of financial year to reduce its tax bill in July.

Public Image

Supporting charities or holding fundraising events that gain community attention evokes a positive response towards the organization and its initiatives. This can distract from less positive elements of the business such as its practices, policies or its products and it can attract a greater customer base and potential clients – people want to be aligned with an organization who support a good cause.

Employee Relations

The saying “All Work and No Play makes Jack a Dull Boy” is very much a part of the 21’st century’s workforce, with the possible addition of “Jack gets so dull that he takes as many sick days as possible and lollygags around on company time or leaves for a company offering greater incentives”. Employee relations is a large part of any company, with greater competition being created as organization’s have come to realize that the added perks to the job such as corporate health programs, gym memberships, internal competitions and employee gatherings are what are keeping employees loyal, hard working and happy.

Whether it’s for honorable reasons or not so honorable, the intent of the donation is not the point. These charities that are being supported don’t need to know the reasons behind the money are receiving, they just go on to transform it into a positive change in the world.

A calendar of charity events

Here is an idea of just a few of the larger charity events that can be held each month. These particular events are Australia Wide although the months may differ depending on your state

A little about these events

***All Information below is sourced and quoted directly from the websites “About Us” pages as of May 2012. Please see references at the bottom to access websites directly and/or to register for these events***

Clean Up Australia Day

In 1989 Ian Kiernan who is described as an 'average Australian bloke' decided to host an event to clean up Sydney harbour after visiting his dream desdination only to find it littered with rubbish. The clean up event received an enormous public response with more than 40,000 Sydneysiders donating their time and energy to clean up the harbour.

The next year Clean Up Australia Day was born. Ian and his committee believed that if a capital city could be mobilised into action, then so could the whole nation. Almost 300,000 volunteers turned out on the first Clean Up Australia Day in 1990 and that involvement has steadily increased ever since.

This simple idea has now become the nation's largest community-based environmental event. Now in its 22nd year, the event attracts hundreds of thousands of volunteers from the community, schools and businesses to help clean up, fix up and conserve their environment. In 2012 more than 591,400 volunteers across Australia helped to celebrate 22 years of Clean Up Australia by donning gloves and filling up Clean Up Australia Day rubbish bags with an estimated 16,199 tonnes of rubbish at 7,363 registered Sites across Australia. "Simple, easy actions can protect the health of our water resources and help save drinking water supplies. There is not one individual who cannot help to make a difference to the health of the environment" - Ian Kiernan AO.Ian Kiernan's vision is an apolitical, non-profit community campaign in which everyone can participate

For More Information Visit: http://www.cleanup.org.au

How Can You Help? Talk to your management about allowing some work time to clean up a specific area. Put together a team and register and you are making your contribution!

The Greatest Shave

World's Greatest Shave raises funds for the Leukaemia Foundation's important work – providing free practical and emotional support to people with blood cancer and their families, as well as investing millions in research. Since 1998, over a million people have shaved
or coloured their hair, raising in excess of $120 million

The money raised will go towards research, which is needed to find better treatments and cures for leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. Donations and sponsorship will also support families when they need it most, providing leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma patients with a free home-away-from-home near hospital during their treatment. It will also mean the Leukaemia Foundation can transport them to appointments and provide as much practical assistance and emotional support as they can, all free of charge.

For More Information Visit: http://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/

How Can You Help? Talk to your workplace about putting together a team of people willing to shave their heads or colour their hair. Each team member heads out to gain sponsorship and then on the 11th or 12th you shave and colour!

Earth Hour

In 2007, WWF-Australia inspired Sydney-siders to show their support for climate change action in the first ever Earth Hour event. It showed that everyone, from children to CEOs and politicians, has the power to change the world they live in. In Sydney, Australia, 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights out for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

In 2008, the plan was to take Earth Hour to the rest of Australia. But then the City of Toronto, Canada, signed up and it wasn’t long before 35 countries and almost 400 cities and towns were part of the event. It said something compelling to the world: that the climate challenges facing our planet are so significant that change needs to be global.

With the invitation to ‘switch off’ extended to everyone, Earth Hour quickly became an annual global event. It’s scheduled on the last Saturday of every March – closely coinciding with the equinox to ensure most cities are in darkness as it rolled out around the Earth.

In 2011, Earth Hour saw hundreds of millions of people across 135 countries switch off for an hour. But it also marked the start of something new – going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action on climate change. In 2012, Earth Hour celebrated its largest event to date with more than 6,950 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories switching off their lights, and with hundreds of thousands of people accepting an IWIYW challenge to take their commitment to the planet beyond the hour. With the power of social networks used to promote the campaign, Earth Hour is working towards an interconnected global community committed to creating a more sustainable planet.

For More Information Visit:http://www.earthhour.org/
How Can You Help? Whether you organise an "Earth Hour" party and celebrate in the dark in your office space or choose an hour out of the work day to shut down, you can also talk to your management about what the company can do to reduce their energy bill and help save the planet!

ANZAC Day

Australians recognise 25 April as an occasion of national remembrance, which takes two forms. Commemorative services are held at dawn – the time of the original landing – across the nation. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and women meet to take part in marches through the major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal and are held at war memorials around the country. In these ways, ANZAC Day is a time when Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war.

For More Information Visit: http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/anzac_tradition.asp

How Can You Help: Your Local RSL club raises funds to assist those families affected by the war. Hold a fundraiser or take a collection from the staff to donate on our Day of Remembrance.

Biggest Morning Tea

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is one of Australia’s best-loved fundraising events, and plays a vital role in raising money towards Cancer Council’s work in research, prevention and support. They work with the the eight state and territory cancer organisations to undertake and fund cancer research, prevent and control cancer, and provide information and support for people affected by cancer.

As a national organisation they advise governments and other bodies about appropriate practices and policies for the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer and advocate for the rights of cancer patients to best treatment and supportive care. They’re here to support those diagnosed as well as their families offering services such as
Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20, Printed and online information, One-to-one support, and Telephone support groups.

For More information Visit: http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/?gclid=CKTb3-XJ4q8CFVGApAod_TSJCA
How Can You Help: Register, bake some cupcakes and make some tea and encourage your workmates to do the same, or ask your management to fund a morning tea at work that takes a donation to participate.

The Million Paws Walk

The RSPCA Million Paws Walk is one of the biggest fundraising events for the RSPCA. It involves thousands of people and dogs registering, fundraising and participating in walks held across Australia to raise money for those less fortunate animals in the care of the state.

The RSPCA Million Paws Walk started in 1994 in Queensland by Dr Cam Day who believed a special event involving animals of all types walking together could be a ‘win-win’ situation, providing a fun day out for pets and their owners, while promoting responsible pet ownership and raising much-needed funds for the RSPCA. Since then it has expanded, with over 70 events held nationally.

For More Information Visit: http://www.millionpawswalk.com.au/
How Can you Help? Put together a team and encourage your workmates to bring their pet and participate

CEO Sleep Out

The Vinnies CEO Sleepout began as a local community venture in Sydney’s Parramatta in 2006. Since then, the event has raised important funds for Vinnies Homeless Services across NSW.In 2010 the event was launched nationally and exceeded expectations, attracting almost 700 CEO’s in 7 cities nationally and raising $2.9 million to directly assist people experiencing homelessness.Vinnies place an emphasis on breaking personal cycles of poverty by helping people to learn to make better decisions through a range of education programs, recreation activities, and extensive information and referral services in a safe and supportive environment.At the last Census, 104,700 Australians were counted as homeless (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006) with 50,256 Australian’s on the street, every night. The growing incidence of homelessness has not been accompanied by an increase in services to meet demand. While Vinnies operates a wide range of homeless services across the country, many areas remain without specialist homeless and housing services to support the needs of people experiencing disadvantage.The aim of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is not only to raise funds, but raise awareness of homelessness. Our goal is not just to service the homeless, but to bring about an end to homelessness. The discomfort of sleeping on the streets is a fragment of the larger reality we hope to impart upon influential leaders of the community. With their help, and yours, we can fight the issue of homelessness together.

For More Information Visit: http://www.ceosleepout.org.au/
How Can you Help? Encourage your CEO to take the challenge and sleep out for one night. I know I would pay a lot to see my CEO sleeping outside! Its a great way to support a great cause.

Red Nose Day

Red Nose Day, held annually on the last Friday in June, is the major fundraiser for SIDS and Kids. Funds raised through Red Nose Day activities assist SIDS and Kids in providing vital services and programs to the Australian community. SIDS and Kids offer nation-wide free bereavement services to families who have experienced the death of a baby or child during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood regardless of the cause.

Each year SIDS and Kids fields thousands of queries through a bereavement support line. Ongoing professional support for families is available 24 hours a day through counselling sessions, after hours counselling, home visits and a range of support groups and events. SIDS and Kids programs are offered free of charge to all family members and friends who need support. For as long as they need them, SIDS and Kids are there! Proceeds from Red Nose Day assist SIDS and Kids in providing vital services and programs in your local community including:
• Free ongoing bereavement support and crisis outreach to families and the community following the sudden and unexpected death of a baby, infant or child • 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!
• Education to thousands of parents, carers and health professionals on how to reduce the risk of SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents through our world class, evidence based SIDS and Kids safe sleeping program
• Research into the causes and prevention of sudden and unexpected death of babies during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood.

For More Information Visit: http://www.rednoseday.com.au/
How Can You Help: Encourage your workmates to buy a red nose. Hold an event at work where a red nose is mandatory, or a fine is paid (that will be donated to the red nose day charity)

Stress Down Day

Stress Down day is an annual event. This day is dedicated to reducing the burden of stress on our community, and will encourage people in schools and workplaces to have fun with their fellows, friends or family to reduce stress levels, have fun and raise funds for Lifeline. The money will go towards helping run our 24 hour telephone support services, a service that is literally life saving for thousands of Australian’s every year. You simply get sponsored to wear your slippers to work or school, dress up or dress down and have a bit of fun to show that you support Lifeline and its life saving work.

Or alternatively, other ways to show support could be Purchasing Exclusive Stress Down Day Slippers or Developing your own event (where slippers or a change in clothes are impractical/against OH&S)

The campaign will also provide participants and organisations with useful tools to manage stress in our everyday lives

For More Information Visit: http://www.stressdown.org.au/
How Can You Help? Encourage your management to allow a pajama day with a morning tea with an entry fee to participate, or do other de-stressing activities to raise money for LifeLine

(Picture Sourced From: http://godadgo.com.au/events/details.aspx?id=225 )

Jeans for Genes Day/Jamm for Genes

At the Children's Medical Research Institute there is a crack team of scientists busily researching the very beginnings of disease. They're on a mission to reduce the number of children born with genetic illnesses. Their research has already led to treatment and prevention of genetic diseases, Rubella for example. Today, thousands of babies around the world are no longer being born with Rubella's devastating affects – deafness, blindness, congenital heart disease, and intellectual disability, and they are on the brink of yet more. They collaborate with scientists all over the world because they are not owned by a drug company or a government.

One in twenty children is born with a congenital abnormality or genetic disease. That’s over 12,000 children born in Australia each year. Each year, thousands of Australians take part in this iconic event for Children’s Medical Research Institute. On Friday August 3, 2012 schoolrooms, workplaces and streets everywhere will be awash with denim in a united stance against childhood disease.

There’s a range of ways you can get your school or workplace involved this Jeans for Genes Day. Organise a denim-themed mufti day or fashion parade, hold a cake stall, sell Groovy Gear merchandise, collect gold coins or hold a Jamm for Genes music event. Your event doesn’t have to take place August 3 – Children’s Medical Research Institute needs funds year round to continue our mission.

Jamm it up if you’re a muso, pub or club owner or someone who enjoys music by holding your own Jamm for Genes night and raising money for a great cause. Jamm for Genes is a music initiative. It’s for all the groovers around Australia who appreciate great tunes, attending live gigs and raising money for a brilliant cause. Jamm night’s don’t discriminate. Any person can attend, everyone can have fun and all donations are welcome.

For More Information Visit: http://www.jeansforgenes.org.au/
How Can You Help? Simple! Talk to your management to get the ok and wear a pair of jeans to work - make sure your management requires a donation to participate!

Walk to Work Day

Now in its 13th year, the Cancer Council National Walk to Work Day, on Friday 28 September, is an annual event which helps employers and employees to build regular walking into their daily routine.
Did you know that people who walk before and during work are generally healthier, more productive and creative and less likely to be absent or on sick-leave? Regular walking can also help to relieve feelings of depression or anxiety. And it improves our environment by reducing car dependency.We are therefore asking all workers to put their Feet First and take part in the Cancer Council National Walk to Work Day on Friday 28 September 2012. If you can't walk all the way, use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way to work. If you must drive, leave the car at least a kilometre from your destination and walk the rest of the way. Take a half-hour walk at lunchtime and where possible use the stairs. If you are required to sit a lot at work, get up and walk around at least once every hour

For More Information Visit: http://www.walk.com.au/wtw/page.asp
How Can you Help? I don't know about you but 90% of my office is on a diet and have a gym membership that they reluctantly use when they can't think of a good excuse not to. Coming together as a team is a great way to get some exercise and support a great cause.

Girls Night In

It started as a relatively small initiative where friends got together at home and donated what they could to Cancer Council for their research, prevention and support programs.
This small initiative has grown since then and Girls Night In now raises over $4million each year, as many women embrace it as a great excuse to catch up with their girlfriends and reconnect in the name of a good cause. No pressure. No dress code. No expectations.Whether it's high heels or trackie dacks, 'girl time' is about accepting one another for exactly who and what we are.Many Australian women today have such busy lives juggling work, family and various social and community commitments. Finding face to face time with close friends has become a rare treat. Time spent with girlfriends is special. Whether you laugh or cry (or both!) it's about making connection, opening up and letting loose.
Whatever it is that you and your girlfriends do to spend time with each other counts as a Girls Night In. Set a date and get the girls together and collect donations in honour of your friendship or a loved one who has lost their battle with cancer.

Girls Night In is unique in the fundraising world. The funds raised go towards Cancer Council's ground breaking research, prevention and support strategies for ALL women's cancers.
It's also about raising awareness for gynaecological cancers that sometimes get overlooked. More than 16,800 Australian women are diagnosed with gynaecological and breast cancers every year. Every contribution to Girls Night In makes a difference to these women as Cancer Council is able to fund research into improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
As important are the support services that Cancer Council provides.
These services are essential in assisting people that have been diagnosed, treated or survived cancer to deal with the physical, emotional and financial challenges of their cancer journey.
Cancer Council's prevention programs help maintain awareness of the disease and how best to avoid it. Cancer Council is at the forefront of this work and it is made possible only by the generous support of people like us.

For More Information Visit: http://www.girlsnightin.com.au/
How Can You Help? What could be more fun! You can organise an event at a venue, at your home or in your workplace. Whether you buy goods or ask for donations, everyone gives a little to attend and get their girl on!

Light The Night

At sunset on Wednesday, 5 October, thousands of people will participate in the Leukaemia Foundation’s Light the Night walk at 12 locations across Queensland in support of those who have been touched by leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood cancers and disorders. Light the Night walks will be held in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Caboolture, Cairns, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Port Douglas, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville. You can help create a sea of lights by lighting your own lantern to carry on the leisurely walk. Each coloured lantern contains a tiny light and has a special meaning:

White for blood cancer patients and survivors

Blue for supporters

Gold for those remembering a loved one lost

Before the Light the Night walk, be inspired by personal stories and reflect on the impact blood cancers have on patients, their loved ones, and the wider community.

For More information Visit: http://www.lightthenight.org.au/
How Can You Help: Get a work team together to "light the night"

Movember

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Australia and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face and then for the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November and through their actions and words raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and their female supporters (known as Mo Sistas) celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.8 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Czech Republic. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health cause across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between.

No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, and to act on that knowledge, thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment.

In 2011, over 142,200 Australian Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising over $26 Million AUD to date. We continue to receive donations for several months following the campaign so updated totals will be shared shortly. To best reflect the complete financial picture from each campaign, Movember’s financial year runs from May 1 to April 30. At the end of each financial year Movember engages independent accountants, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, to audit our financials, ensuring financial accountability and accuracy.

The funds raised in Australia support equally the two biggest health issues men face – prostate cancer and depression. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Together, the three channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals, in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.

For More Information Visit: http://au.movember.com/
How Can you Help: You can have one MoBro or a team grow a Mo to support the cause, with the whole office both donating and rallying their friends and family to support the workteam cause! If you are in an office of girls like me - find a husband, friend or office neighbour to represent your office!

The Smith Family Christmas Appeal

The Smith Family is a national, independent children's charity helping disadvantaged Australians to get the most out of their education, so they can create better futures for themselves.

No one would deny that children are Australia's most vulnerable and precious resource, yet right now more than 605,000 are living in disadvantage* and are unable to access the same educational, health or life opportunities that many of us enjoy and often take for granted. When children are left out, they get left behind and without support, the disadvantage they experience today is likely to continue into adulthood - and on to the next generation.

The Smith Family believes that education is the key to changing lives. As research has shown, supporting a child's education is one of the most effective ways of breaking the cycle of disadvantage and ensuring they can access the same learning opportunities as their peers.

At the centre of The Smith Family's work, and the heart of the organisation, is a belief in the power and possibilities of relationships. For disadvantaged children to thrive, many of whom are growing up in lone parent and jobless households, they need to be connected to, and supported by, an extended family.

The Smith Family has a long and proud association with Christmas. The organisation was founded in 1922 when five businessmen decided to deliver toys to orphans on Christmas Eve. Since then we have grown and developed and what we do has changed to meet the needs of an ever-changing society, but we still deliver toy and book gift packs and hampers to families at Christmas.

This gesture of goodwill ensures that all Australian families can come together at Christmas to share food and gifts and celebrate life. The Smith Family continues to provide opportunities for disadvantaged Australians to participate fully and society and we believe that Christmas is a time when all Australians should feel they belong.

Each year at Christmas time, tens of thousands of food hampers are distributed to needy children and families across Australia. This process is made possible by hundreds of volunteers.

The Smith Family believes that every family should be able to sit down in their own home to a traditional feast at Christmas time. Unfortunately, for families living in financial disadvantage, Christmas often adds additional strain to existing budget pressures. We try to ease the burden on these families by providing food and gifts in addition to our ongoing financial, personal and educational support.

Every Christmas an estimated 20,000 toy and book gift packs and 10,000 food hampers are distributed to needy families. Hundreds of community volunteers, corporate volunteers from our corporate partners and a few celebrity packers donate their time to ensure that everything is ready to go in time for Christmas. Each food hamper contains all the essentials for a traditional Christmas lunch and each toy and book gift pack is chosen to suit the age and gender of the children in the household.

The Smith Family believes that Christmas is a time for social cohesion and participation. Providing assistance at Christmas is also a major part of our history and traditions and we intend to continue this gesture of goodwill well into the future.

For More Information Visit: http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/site/page.cfm
How Can You Help? Ask for a donation from every staff member to take to your local donation drop. Even if it's something small, or something re-gifted - every little bit helps!

Remember: Whether it’s for honorable reasons or not so honorable, the intent of a donation to charity is not the point. These charities that are being supported don’t need to know the reasons behind the money that they are receiving, they just go on to transform it into a positive change in the world.

Do you want more information? I sourced my blog from these sites!

· Neerav Bhatt on June 22, 2009 - Rambling Thoughts Blog

http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/donations-to-charity-lower-tax-bill-and-help-your-favourite-cause/

· The Australian Taxation Office

http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?doc=/content/8568.htm&pc=001/002/013/008/006&mnu=42701&mfp=001/002&st=&cy=1

· The Librarianism Chronicles – BlogSpot

http://librarianismchronicles.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/keeping-track-of-goals-in-new-year.html

· Good At Life

http://darapoznar.com/tag/giving/

· Wise Geek on Employee Relations

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-employee-satisfaction.htm

· Blog: Public Relations