FY 2022 Year-End Newsletter

History and Background

One Light Charity Foundation was established in 2011 to represent small business members and support registered charities. Over the years, One Light has granted over $3 million to our communities, including the major Townsville and Lismore floods, Help a Farmer Drought, and the Kangaroo Island Bushfires.

We operate a very lean cost structure, utilising volunteer and sponsored resources, making maximum impact investments in our communities. We do the due diligence on Australian registered charities for our donors who want to see more funds flow towards solving pressing social needs on the front lines.

More businesses are launching initiatives to be Corporately Socially Responsible (CSR) and meet their ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) responsibilities. This is because customers, employees and stakeholders all demand it.
While CSR is typically considered a practice for large international businesses, many small and medium enterprises (SMBs) are also starting to practice social responsibility and are reaping the benefits.

With Shane The Kangaroo Island Garlic Farmer

Highlights of the last twelve months

We are proud to share a few highlights of the last year and how you, our donor, helped change someone’s life.

Our Cause – Natural Disasters

One Light supported the Lismore Floods with much-needed products.

One Light volunteers Anthoni and Rob delivered cleaning products

We were able to donate furniture to Lismore flood victims

Lismore Base Hospital

Hearts have long been a part of Lismore’s branding.
They hang from flood-damaged windows in Lismore and drape across the facades of empty buildings. They once symbolised “we are open”, but they don’t say that now. We revisited Lismore after the devastating floods to donate toys and books to the children’s ward. Your incredible gifts and donations will create laughter for sick kids during challenging times.

The floods on Lismore Base Hospital were overwhelming. Nurses and doctors were sleeping in the wards, just waking up and returning to do a new shift.
Having children in the hospital can be challenging, and this fantastic unit goes the extra mile to make it as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Rebekka Battista, Our Kids fundraising coordinator

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. However, your toy donation to Our Kids has made it much easier to get things done and thrust us forward. Thank you for your generosity and support.”

Our Cause – Homelessness

One Light volunteers delivered backpacks for the homeless to Juice Radio Station, 3rd Space in Brisbane, Salvation Army, Set Free Care, Brisbane and Coolangatta Newlife Care and Able Australia in Jimboomba.

50 Winter Backpacks donated to Agape and Juice Radio Station

Salvation Army

Tony delivered Easter Backpacks

Able Australia staff

Murray Smith 3rdspace Brisbane

Kids Under Cover

We have also made a grant to Kids Under Cover, supporting vulnerable young children already homeless or at risk of being homeless. The Grant went towards the building and furnishing of a new modular unit.

Our Cause – Domestic Violence

With our donor’s help, we support charities that meet the needs of domestic violence and substance abuse victims. These registered charities help the victims overcome their difficult circumstances and empower them for a better future.

The Esther Foundation currently provides residential accommodation for approximately 30 young women, mothers, and children. One of the ways they fund the work that they do is through their Social Enterprise – The Esther Cafe and Boutique.

Through our connection with Jane Ramsay, a very successful Sydney designer and small business owner, we were able to donate a whole range of Kahmuh designer clothes to the Esther Boutique and coffee shop in Perth. 

Esther staff showing off Kahmuh designer dresses

2nd Esther clothing donation delivery from Brisbane

Our Cause – Extreme Poverty

With the help of small business owner JA Brothers, we donated 300 pairs of school shoes to Mission Educate in Mozambique, Baby give back, ACT for kids and Geebung Special school in Brisbane.

JA Brother with One Light volunteer Gnocci

Our Cause – Medical and Mental Support

Princess For a Day

Princess for a Day is a unique free personalised pampering service for ladies going through physical, emotional, mental and financial hardship.

The team at Newlife Care Inc. provides a variety of beauty and relaxation therapies, including hand and nail treatments, facials, massages, professional haircuts and make-up.

Jill Ransom, one of the Founders of Princess for a Day.

Pamper Gifts from our donors

Mental Wheels

The negative cycles we get stuck in when we have poor emotional well-being can impact every aspect of our lives and make it hard to live the lives we want. It is especially true if we develop symptoms of depression or anxiety.

The Mental Wheels Cycling Tour (24-28 August) in the sunny Qld is an amazing Road Bike Ride that brings people together, taking action to improve mental well-being directly. Entry is FREE!!

One Light and our Partners Bartercard Australia and Qoin are proud to sponsor and donate to this worthy cause helping to make it more accessible for everyone concerning costs.

Cycling Tour

Men’s Sheds

Many people from vulnerable sectors within our communities (for example, seniors and people with disabilities) want to stay independent and understandably in their homes. Loved ones want to support their wishes but can’t help but be concerned for their safety.

In recognition and support of men’s health, we recently donated Rova personal medical alarms to the Men’s Shed in Nerang and Lismore.
Good health is based on many factors, including being productive and valuable to the community, connecting with friends and maintaining an active body and mind. In addition, becoming a member of the Men’s Shed provides a safe and busy environment.

Victor Jonathan, vice-president and secretary of the Men’s Shed, gave us a tour of their Shed in Nerang. We are impressed by their incredible woodwork and the valuable work they do beyond the Shed’s walls.

See video of Nerang Men’s Shed here

Not all Men’s Sheds are the same – you might see some men making furniture, restoring bicycles for a local school or helping other communities to rebuild their lives in the wake of a natural disaster. They even recently offered support to Tonga and helped the Lismore Men’s Shed after the recent floods.

We also visited the Lismore Men’s Shed, they were grateful for the Rova medical alarms and Qoin work shirts and was proud to show off a handcrafted wooden rocking horse for the group photo.

Lismore Men’s Shed

Violet’s Ear To Hear

Violet is a beautiful, happy, engaged toddler. Sadly, she does not have a right external ear (called microtia) and is missing her left and right ear canals (bilateral atresia). As a result, Violet has severe hearing loss and cannot hear conversations, only loud noises.
Creating both ear canals

Violet needs reconstructive surgery that is unavailable in Australia and is only available in the United States to:
· create both ear canals, enabling her to hear,
· construct a right external ear,
· and possibly enlarge her little left ear.

Qoin and Bartercard staff held a morning tea to help raise funds for Violet’s ear operation. Paula is the CEO of Small Businesses and Jobs Expos and is passionate about helping small businesses thrive and made a generous donation in Qoin towards Violet’s ear operation.

After Violet’s story was featured on QDN, we had a terrific response from the Qoin community.

Cara interviews donor Paula Brand, Violet’s mum Clem and Jane, President of Violet’s Ear to Hear Charity.

Christmas Hampers

Although Christmas is meant to be a happy time, this isn’t how everyone feels at this time of the year. On the contrary, Christmas can be stressful and depressing for many people.

Because of your generous donations, we have helped vulnerable Australian families this festive season by donating children’s toys, and gifts for grown-ups, to the Christmas Hamper Campaigns of Newlife Uniting Care, Salvation Army and Global Spirited women Australia.

Packed Hampers with Christmas gifts

Christmas Angels

Newlife Care

One Light Charity Foundation has been helping and giving back to those doing it tough for more than ten years. But, it’s not just humans who are the beneficiaries.

Our Cause – Animals

For more than 60 years, Guide dogs for the Blind Association of Queensland have enabled a lifetime of independence, participation, inclusion and well-being for people with vision loss and their families. It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise and train a Guide Dog, and a Therapy Dog goes through most of this training process. The Association is genuinely grateful for the generosity of our small business donors in supporting them with the work that they are doing in the community.

Guide Dogs Association

APAC Blockchain Conference

The digital assets sector in Australia is thriving. Nearly 20% of Australians own cryptocurrencies. One Light Charity Foundation is one of a few charities that accept donations in crypto.

We were fortunate to attend the APAC Blockchain Conference and learn from the leaders in the cryptocurrency industry.
Our partner Qoin was the headline sponsor, and Tony Wiese, One Light Director, presented a Keynote at the 4th annual industry event. Tony talked about the good, the bad, and the ugly of creating and launching a unique platform offering in a rapidly changing crypto industry. Please read more about his keynote speech here:

At Aerial UTS Function Centre with Sydney colleagues Steve and Linda

Thank you

We are proud of the work that One Light was able to do in our communities, but we could not have done it without your generous donations and support.

The Australian Tax Office has endorsed one Light Charity Foundation as a Deductible Gift Recipient. Subject to tax law, donors can claim a tax deduction for donating to the Foundation.

 We make it easy for you or your business to donate cash, products, trade or crypto.

To learn more about us or to make a donation, please visit our website at www.oneligtcharity.com

 Please follow us on social media to stay up to date with our work and show your support.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts! #BetterTogether

The One Light Team