Giving back
I do this business for more than just me and flutists who visit this site. I've realised that I can make helping others a reality and just start giving a portion of my online sales to a cause that I believe in.
Often it is sponsoring a friend who is doing something for charity, and sometimes it's a cause that I contribute to directly. Either way, every small amount helps, and I plan to be able to give more and more as time goes on.
Here are the donations (in Australian Dollars) so far...
MAY 2019
$120 to Orange Sky
This donation will help Orange Sky to provide clean laundry, warm showers and genuine conversation for people on the streets in Australia.
APRIL 2019
$100 to Entrust Foundation
I discovered my good friend does a lot of work with Entrust. And I want to support her and her charity!
Entrust is about identifying and funding projects that bring transformation to individuals and communities in the developing world amongst the poor and oppressed.
MARCH 2019
$100 to Dignity
Dignity helps people who are homeless by providing emergency crisis accommodation and food for struggling families and individuals.
Dignity's guests often arrive with nothing, so they also provide carefully selected quality clothing packs.
FEBRUARY 2019
$100 to Animals For All Care
Animals for All Care, in Sydney, takes rescue dogs around to nursing homes and helps older folk feel connected to animals. Which brings happiness to people who so often are missing their beloved pets! Amazing.
JANUARY 2019
$100 to Orange Sky
Orange Sky operates 27 vehicles in 22 cities around Australia, providing 87,995 loads of washing and 7,138 warm showers every week to homeless people. And most importantly, they give 144,772 hours every week of genuine and non-judgemental conversation.
You guys are great Orange Sky!
DECEMBER 2018
$180 to Symphony for Life Foundation
Symphony for Life invests in the children of Australia who need it most! They create excellent orchestras and choirs for children and young people living in challenging or emerging communities.
NOVEMBER 2018
$50 to Wayside Chapel
"Because no one should go hungry at Christmas."
Last December, a constant stream of homeless men, women and children walked through the doors of Wayside Chapel in Sydney, in desperate need of food and support.
Christmas Day is a special time when the homeless can enjoy a free meal (with all the trimmings).
OCTOBER 2018
$80 to Ping-Pong-a-Thon
My friend Steve is raising money by playing in a Ping Pong tournament this month!
Ping-Pong-A-Thon is a fundraising & advocacy movement, combating human trafficking and exploitation of young people in South East Asia.
SEPTEMBER 2018
$60 to help send Jett to space camp!
Jett is a Sydney 10 year old who is a science and technology enthusiast. He suffered from a brain tumour and lost his vision suddenly and permanently when he was 8.
He is raising money to go to the Vision Impaired Space Camp in the US. Good luck Jett!
AUGUST 2018
$50 to The Bloody Long Walk
My colleague Debbie is walking 35km along the beautiful coast of Sydney to raise money for Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. Go Debbie!
And nicely named - The Bloody Long Walk!
JULY 2018
$120 to Share the Dignity
Twice a year Share the Dignity collect sanitary items that are then donated to their registered charities. Their charity partners then supply homeless, at-risk and women experiencing domestic violence with dignity at a time they need it most.
It's something I'd never really thought about until I saw a poster in a toilet cubicle recently about this charity. Glad I know about these guys now.
JUNE 2018
$88 to Ping Pong a Thon
These guys are so amazing, enthusiastic and compassionate. The "Pong" combats human trafficking and exploitation of young people in South East Asia. Communities across Australia and the USA, host table tennis events each October and so far have raised $1.25 million!
MAY 2018
$120 to Delta Society
Delta therapy dogs visit aged care homes, mental health units, hospitals, disability services, prisons and dementia specific facilities, all around Australia, bringing much needed joy and happiness.
Dogs are so wonderful to be around. Especially when you're feeling like you need company!
APRIL 2018
$100 to Mercy Huts
Mercy Huts Surf Retreat is on Rote Island, Indonesia. My good friends Sally and Paul are 2 of the founders of Mercy Huts. They are establishing a beachfront retreat for holiday-makers that wholly gives back to local people living in poverty. Great stuff guys.
MARCH 2018
$70 to Mobile Shower Bus
"Restoring dignity, one hot shower at a time". What a great slogan (and purpose!).
This bus in Sydney provides much appreciated showers to homeless people. And their bus has broken down! Keep up the good work guys.
FEBRUARY 2018
$66 to Music And Memory
The freakin' amazing MUSIC & MEMORY organisation brings personalised music into the lives of the elderly through the use of iPod music players, vastly improving their quality of life.
JANUARY 2018
$38 to Bliss and Grit podcast
This podcast deserves my money, since they have been so helpful at keeping me in a good headspace in life. Thanks Bliss and Grit!
DECEMBER 2017
$35 for a Project Rudolf box
Project Rudolph boxes (which include meat for roasting, fresh vegetables and a Christmas cake) are delivered to families who might otherwise miss out at Christmas, across Australia.
NOVEMBER 2017
$19 to Go Fund Me campaign
A local Sydney resident is running a Go Fund Me campaign to raise $8000 to buy an assistance dog. I hope this little contribution helps.
OCTOBER 2017
$46 to Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME)
AIME helps indigenous Australian school children finish high school and mentors the most disadvantaged kids out of inequality.
SEPTEMBER 2017
$22 to Ping-Pong-a-Thon
These guys have raised over $70,000 to help stop the buying and selling of humans (aka trafficking) in South East Asia.
The way they do this is to hold Ping Pong marathons! You guys rock. Keep going :)
AUGUST 2017
$33 to Dignity
"Human dignity is the idea that every human has inherent worth."
This charity is so inspiring. They help traumatised, hungry, cold and often ashamed homeless individuals into temporary accommodation.
JULY 2017
$22 to Kids Under Cover
These guys help young people before they become homeless by helping their carers build studio accommodation in their backyards and giving them an independent space to live.
The stats are that family conflict is reduced from 57% to just 4% after a studio has been provided. Genius!
JUNE 2017
$46 to CEO Sleepout
My friend was one of 1747 heads of companies who slept outside in the middle of Sydney winter (which is cold enough!). Together they raised $5.5 million to help homelessness.
MAY 2017
$128 to Ozharvest Market
The amazing Ozharvest have opened a shop in Sydney that "sells" rescued good quality food. You walk in, take just what you need, and give whatever $$$ you can.
APRIL 2017
$62 to CEO Sleepout
My friend Lloyd is sleeping out in the open in mid-Winter to simulate, for just 1 night what it's like to be homeless in Sydney.
It's the least I can do to help. One day I'll be able to do more...
MARCH 2017
$44 to Ozharvest Food Rescue
I love OzHarvest. They are a food rescue organisation in Australia, collecting quality excess food from cafes and shops, and delivering it to charities.
Since 2004, they have saved more than 20,000 tonnes of food from ending up in landfill.
Yikes!
FEBRUARY 2017
$23 to Kokoda Plus
My trampoline instructor is a legend.
In an effort to break down the stigma around living with HIV, Olympic silver medallist Ji Wallace is leading an expedition along the historic Kokoda trail in June 2017.
He says it's "to show the world that no matter your struggle, no matter your ailment, no matter where you come from or what ever you have been handed in life: it does not define you. Stand tall on your character, your generosity, your compassion and your word and never underestimate the power of yourself."
JANUARY 2017
$72 to refugees.tv
I heard a heartbreaking, but uplifting (somehow both!) episode of This American Life podcast.
Some young guys in a Syrian refugee camp in Greece were being just generally awesome and creative. And I wanted to support that!
