Year-end Newsletter

Thank you for your generous donations to the One Light Charity Foundation.

We are blessed to have your support. Through your donations, we have been able to support causes and charities that combat extreme suffering in our communities.

Together we change lives!

The One Light Board

Four men standing next to each other in office

It has been a very busy and challenging year for all of us. We would love to share a few highlights with you of how you helped to change someone’s life.

Bushfires

Australia is no stranger to bushfires, however, the 2019-2020 season proved to be unprecedented in many ways.

OLC sent a team led by Director Lee Geldenhuys to Kangaroo Island to assess and prioritise the projects that are most likely to benefit the Community on a sustainable basis

We experienced the people’s pain first hand; one doesn’t understand the needs and discomfort until you’re on the ground amongst the victims. Some of the people have lost everything; they are broken.

When calamity hits, the media and everyone is there. Still, the moment it’s over, everyone leaves. But this is the time when people need help: not only financially but also emotionally.

We are very grateful for the significant amount donated from USA TrustBridge Global Foundation. Their Network member, National Christian Foundation “NCF” immediately agreed to share the One Light bushfire campaign with their thousands of donor families across the United States. Many givers responded swiftly to the call and within two weeks, raised $100 000!

We identified the following projects as priorities that required funding and support. Read more about these projects and how you supported KI here

• Stokes bay community Hall

• Kangaroo Island Garlic farmer, Shane Leahy

• Stanton family stock farm

• Kangaroo Island Estate Wine

• Chocol’art and coffee

Binna Burra Lodge

Image of Binna Burra Heritage-listed Lodge damaged by fire

Binna Burra Heritage-Listed Lodge destroyed

Fires have also destroyed much of the heritage-listed Binna Burra Lodge in the Gold Coast hinterland. The level of damage at Binna Burra resort is quite extreme. The Lodge has been fully destroyed including the majority of the commercial assets, which includes:

• Accommodation

• Units

• The restaurant

There will need to be a significant recovery. This is how you helped.

Our animals our responsibility

OLC supports the human-animal bond and supports charities who:

• protect street animals and pets,

• support farm animal welfare,

• stop wildlife abuse,

• eliminate painful animal testing,

• respond to natural disasters,

• confront cruelty to animals in all of its forms.

Read more about this campaign.

One Light Charity volunteer standing next to yellow and green ride on lawn mower

A ride-on lawnmower was
donated, from our
incredible donors to the
Animal Welfare League.

Free backpacks to the homeless and families suffering from
Domestic Violence.

Creating backpacks

We pack our backpacks carefully and donate it to people who do not have a permanent home.

Emergency backpacks

We pack and donate emergency backpacks to women, babies and children. Family violence forces them to leave their homes at short notice.

Items inside the bags include toiletries, sanitary products, books, toys and clothing. By donating just $75 you can help. It’s simple and it makes a big difference in someone’s life. Read more about our winter backpacks here.

One Light Charity backpack with items

2020 Winter Backpacks

One Light Charity Medical And Mental Support

Suicide is a tragedy– and an absolute crisis in our country. Every day, suicide takes another eight Australians from their loved ones.

The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre has

forecast a significant surge in suicides as a result of the bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic.

Lifeline answers around 170,000 calls every year from Queenslanders needing crisis support and suicide prevention services.

We look forward to continue working with UnitingCare.

Man dressed with a black shirt standing infront of Uniting Care Banner.

UnitingCare Business Leaders Thank You Event.

Cancer

Our progress so far:

We help to raise funds and make Grants across all areas of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Research:

We made a Grant to the Dainere’s Rainbow Brain Tumour Research Fund. One hundred per cent of all funds raised go directly towards the vital and innovative children’s brain cancer research. This program is lead by Professor David Ziegler and his team at the Kids Cancer Centre in The Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Family and Survivor Support:

We made a Grant to Brain Tumour Alliance Australia, which was used for the print work of their information booklets. BTAA provides support in the form of services, resources and programs to brain tumour patients, their carers.

One Light Charity Campaigns

To read more about all the OLC campaigns, who donated, how much was raised and the updates, click here.

We are proud of the work that has been done, but we could not have done it without your donations and support.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts!

The One Light Team