Auxiliarated All Over
Summer 2012
Seasonal Reports FROM SUE HUNT
the size and scale of both goes beyond words and pictures. But this is a small snapshot, to give readers a flavour of the amazing fundraising efforts of the entire donor community, and the improvements that have been made throughout the past year at the hospital.
As I reflect on the year that was, I am struck by two equally important things. On one hand, just how many Auxiliary members and supporters I have had the opportunity to get to know and on By sharing these stories we seek to the other, what a difference their hard engage even more people in this work can make. important work. I particularly love the The support that people give to The story about three Auxiliary members Royal Children’s Hospital is unmatched – Laura Overdyk, Olivia Guidice and in Australia. It starts at a grass roots Ainsley Faust – all young mums who level with our network of fundraisers are juggling the pressures of work and and Auxiliaries, and extends all the home with a heartfelt desire to help way to major philanthropists and sick children and their families. They corporate partners. It can be driven by are wonderful representatives of the personal experience. It can be driven greater body of Auxiliary work, that by wanting to ensure that the hospital has taken place this year, and every is always there when we need it. It year since 1922. can be driven by the desire to make I’d like to thank the wonderful staff transformational change in the care of the Foundation, who commit and treatment of children now and themselves so passionately to into the future. supporting the Auxiliaries and all our The significant support shown by donors. Thank you also to the staff Victorians for the hospital brings of The Royal Children’s Hospital who with it a great responsibility. The work with us to make the connections Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation so vitally needed and who meet with has stewardship of our donors and donors and support their efforts. custodianship of these funds. It has Finally, thank you to you. My thanks a significant responsibility to ensure go to every Auxiliary member this that these funds – the funds donated year and every year. Your support by the people of Victoria are used to is appreciated. Every hour you put make the biggest impact; both for in, every dollar you raise makes a the hospital, but equally the biggest difference. impact on the future of children’s health. I wish you all the best, health and happiness to you and your family for The Foundation takes this the holiday season. I hope to see you responsibility very seriously. At every in 2013, and that you’ll to continue to opportunity we seek to thank those support the work of our world-class who support the hospital. We strive to hospital. ensure that the funds will make that difference that all our donors expect. Sue Hunt Executive Director Our annual report, The Impact of Giving, was recently released. I encourage you to read it on our website or get a copy from our office. This report aims to capture the importance of our donors and the impact that their funds make. It is an impossible task, of course, as
FROM CAROLE LOWEN The end of the year has come up fast with the new award winning hospital celebrating its first year. Everyone’s delight in this new hospital has been a wonderful bonus and inspiration to our Auxiliaries celebrating 90 years and support for The Royal Children’s Hospital. It has been so good in the past months to be reminded by doctors and clinicians who remember with gratitude the times when the only money available for extras in the hospital, was provided by our Auxiliaries. In October I was delighted to be so welcomed by the Women’s Auxiliary at Toronto Sick Kids. I spent a day getting to know them and what they do in their hospital. They were so amazed we have so many self managed groups. They started the “Bravery Bead” program for patients ten years ago and as you know this program has now been introduced at The Royal Children’s Hospital by the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Scholarship recipient, Lisa Takacs, whose presentation you enjoyed at the 2010 Annual General Meeting. It is with great sadness and loss as I write this we learn of the passing of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. Dame Elisabeth’s wise counsel to me as President shall live on. Dame Elizabeth was always willing to meet when I had concerning issues for Auxiliaries. It has been an honour for Auxiliaries to have had such a distinguished Patron. Carole Lowen President of Auxiliaries