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This month in philanthropy: September 2024

Philanthropy Australia Fri, 27 Sep 2024 Estimated reading times: 3 minutes

Welcome to the latest edition of our gallery designed to showcase events, launches, project updates and activities happening in our busy member community.

Current members can submit images for the next edition here.

The Sydney Community Foundation’s Sydney Women’s Fund hosted its 10th annual Saluting Sydney Women event at the Opera House. It celebrated the extraordinary leadership of Western Sydney University Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO. The event raised more $1.23 million to support the fund’s critical work. Left-right: Loredana Fyffe, CEO Sydney Community Foundation, Georgina Byron AM, Chair Sydney Women’s Fund and Deputy Chair Sydney Community Foundation, Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott, Sophie McCarthy, Chair Sydney Community Foundation, Lisa Grinham, Head of Sydney Women’s Fund. Photographer: Carla Orsatti.
Corinne Kemp, Co-chair of Impact100 Sydney, a sub-fund of Sydney Community Foundation, has been awarded the prestigious Unsung Hero award by the Committee for Sydney, sponsored by SXSW Sydney. This honour celebrates Corinne’s unwavering commitment to community philanthropy and empowering under-represented groups. L-R: Lisa Chung AM, Sydney Community Foundation Board, Sophie McCarthy, Chair of Sydney Community Foundation, Corinne Kemp, Co-Chair Impact100 Sydney, Loredana Fyffe, CEO Sydney Community Foundation, Nicole Shore, Co-Chair Impact100 Sydney.
Hosted by Global Sisters and dentsu, the 2024 Sister Pitch event brought together 12 female entrepreneurs on 19 September from across Australia to pitch their businesses to a room full of supporters. Top row from left: Madhuri Soni, Fiona Harrison, Corina Muir, Ginan Tabbouch, Global Sisters Founder Mandy Richards, Kim Hutchinson, Tania Walker, Macarla Church and Nina Deng. Bottom row from left: Catie Fry, Cyana Duong, Ira Puspita and Angie Poller.
Sister Pitch is all about challenging systemic, structural barriers to women’s economic security and advancing gender equality in Australia through enabling the entrepreneurs. The ‘secret sauce’, say organisers, is bringing the resources, expertise and connections from leading Australian companies to the table.
Benefolk’s Expert Bar – offering ‘Telehealth for the social sector’ – was launched in Melbourne on 5 September. L-R: Bernard Meadowcroft, Beyond Bank; Katherine Ellis, CEO, Leadership Victoria; Peter Walton, CEO, LMCF; Maree Sidey, CEO, Philanthropy Australia; Julia Keady, Founder and CEO, Benefolk; Dr Wendy Scaife, Director Benefolk Foundation; Paul Conroy, CEO, The Ian Potter Foundation; Kylie Daniels, Beyond Bank; Marlaina McPhillips, Beyond Bank; Shane Farley, Beyond Bank.
Climateworks Centre CEO Anna Skarbek and Peter Winneke, philanthropy adviser and author of Give While You Live, at Climateworks Centre’s webinar on ‘Philanthropy’s role in Australia’s net zero transition’ on 19 September. Anna and Peter explored topics such as pooling resources for greater impact, leveraging business skills and trends in climate philanthropy. If you would like to access a recording of the webinar, please email [email protected].
Glenda Stevens, CEO of Fearless Women, and Catherine Prosser, General Manager of Tender Funerals, Canberra, celebrating after an incredible evening of collective giving at The Funding Network’s Local Communities Crowdfunding event in Canberra on 17 September.
Myriad Alliance attended the Hong Kong Jockey Club Better Cities Forum in September to explore ideas and network with regional stakeholders interested in delivering lasting impact across the Asia-Pacific. L-R: Anita Toy, Executive Director of Myriad Australia; David Sloan, Head of Philanthropy, Wesley Research Institute; and Juanita Theodora, Network Manager at Myriad Alliance.
Fitted for Work had a special visitor recently,  Australian cook, author, radio and television presenter Julie Goodwin. L-R: Susie Pavey, National Partnerships Manager, and Julie Goodwin in Fitted for Work’s retail social enterprise, The Conscious Closet.
Philanthropy Australia hosted an event for more than 110 members to discuss how the Pay What it Takes and Reframe Overhead movements are challenging outdated norms, emphasising the need for real conversations about the costs of delivering impact. Speakers included Jo Taylor, Lisa Allen and Denise Cheng. Pictured is Bella Conyngham, Associate Engagement Manager (NSW & ACT) at Philanthropy Australia, who opened the event.
Healthy North Coast’s Community Wellbeing and Resilience program won the Resilient Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing award for NSW. L-R: Kate Van Saane (Healthy North Coast), Jihad Dib (NSW Minister for Emergency Services), Monika Wheeler (CEO Healthy North Coast), Dr Jean Renouf (Founder and CEO, Plan C), Joanna Quilty (NSW Reconstruction Authority).

Founder and CEO of a leading gift planning consultancy in the US, Dave Smith, shared his learnings from two decades’ experience at an event in Adelaide during Include a Charity Week. L-R: Helen Beeby, Include a Charity Campaign Director, Dave Smith, Founder and CEO of the Heaton Smith Group and Rebecca Moriarty, Project Manager at Philanthropy Australia.
White Box Enterprises celebrated its 5th birthday with events in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in September to thank their partners and supporters. White Box shared its highlights reel and CEO Luke Terry’s 5 key learnings. L-R: QLD Shadow Treasurer David Janetzki, Luke Terry, Cr Penny Wolff, Mel Sass, Sally McGeoch, Mark Daniels, Keith Rovers in Brisbane.
Black Dog Institute’s Sporting Minds Lunch took place in Melbourne recently, bringing together members of Melbourne’s philanthropic community in support of mental health. The event featured inspiring talks from Olympic swimming legends Leisel Jones and Mack Horton, alongside insights from Black Dog Institute researcher Dr Sandersan Onie. L-R: Journalist Sam Edmund, Mack Horton, Leisel Jones.

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