Act for humanity and support vital Red Cross work

Australian Red Cross is turning its iconic 74-year-old Red Cross Calling fundraising campaign on its head, inviting people to Act for Humanity by organising their own events and challenges. 

Red Cross Head of Fundraising Products Vanessa Byrne said Red Cross had traditionally door-knocked and rattled collection cans every March to raise funds to support its vital work. 

“But times have changed, and we are changing too,” she said. “This year we are inviting people to do what they like, what they’re good at, or what they always wished they could do, and to raise money for the Red Cross in the process.” 

For Ms Byrne and her family, that means harnessing the power of toilet roll heroes. Fellow Red Cross staffer Michelle Owen is spicing things up with her red chilli challenge, and Red Cross executives will also be feeling the heat, with CEO Kim Pfitzner attempting to shoot 1000 basketball hoops in March, while Deputy CEO Cindy Batchelor has committed to 250 skips a day throughout the month. 

Ms Byrne said Acts for Humanity could be in person or virtual, and could involve: 

• hosting an event such as a morning tea, trivia night or barbecue, with participants making a donation as an entry fee 
• sharing skills through, for example, a donation-to-participate cooking or craft class or a bicycle maintenance and repair workshop 
• challenging yourself with a fabulous feat of sponsored running, riding, climbing, dancing, hula-hooping, knitting … and the list is endless. 

“We want to see people turn their passions and interests into acts for humanity – acts to help others by raising money for the Red Cross’s life-changing work,” Ms Byrne said.  

“At Red Cross we know many people don’t have the support of community, family and friends, and find themselves alone or at a loss of who to turn to when things get tough. “Red Cross Calling’s Act for Humanity offers a way to help these people while bolstering connections with your own family, friends and community – and having fun along the way.” 

Browse Acts for Humanity here. 

Every contribution to the appeal able to make a difference.  

• $12 can provide a phone call, giving elderly people who live alone someone to talk to. 

• $20 can train a Red Cross volunteer to support people who have experienced trauma. 
• $30 can provide a hygiene kit with soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads and other items to help people who have evacuated a disaster maintain their health and dignity. 
• $50 can help provide tea, coffee and other welcoming items for our community hubs. 
• $60 can help a family seeking asylum in Australia with a new baby essentials kit, containing nappies, bottles and onesies. 
• $80 can provide a friendly phone call every morning for a month to check up on an isolated Australian. 

• $100 can help foster empathy in Australian school students by providing a session in school, with a speaker who arrived in Australia as a refugee. 
• $150 can help support young people who have been involved with the youth justice system to gain employment through our WorkREDi program, with job experience, case management support, mentoring, training and skill development opportunities. 
• $300 can help a Red Cross team to set up an evacuation centre. 
• $500 can support an investigation to trace people who are missing during war or conflict.   

 

Find out more at https://act.redcross.org.au/ 

 

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For media queries or interview requests, contact media@redcross.org.au or 1800 733 443