News
Celebrating 85 Years of Caring
January 8, 2008
We are delighted to be celebrating our birthday in this way - for Melbourne's philanthropic community and the people
Melbourne's Biggest Community Lunch Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation Celebrates 85 Years
The Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation will today host one of Melbourne's biggest community luncheons in celebration of its 85th anniversary.
Themed as 'Christmas in July', approximately 1500 people are expected to attend the community luncheon which will be held at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton. Guests will be treated to a traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.
The Foundation's CEO Mr Andrew Chappell said that it was a significant occasion.
We are delighted to be celebrating our birthday in this way - for Melbourne's philanthropic community and the people these charities serve.
Melburnians are a generous people. We have estimated, in today's terms, more than $200 million has been raised by the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, thanks to the generosity of Melburnians. These funds have been distributed to charities and public hospitals caring for people in need of support.
Our celebration acknowledges the generosity of Melburnians who have supported the Foundation over the last 85 years and applauds the tireless work of the charities we support.
And what a way to celebrate! Today's luncheon includes people from all walks of life. We thought it was very important to celebrate with the people we care about the most, the staff and clients of the charities we fund and, of course, our loyal donors and supporters?
Founded on June 14 1923 by Lord Mayor of the day Sir John Swanson, the Foundation was first known as the Lord Mayor's Fund for Metropolitan Hospitals and Charities. Sir John was determined to ensure that Melbourne had an organised fundraising program to support the health and welfare of the city's growing population.
Sir John was visionary in his approach to fundraising and invited representatives from hospitals, trade unions, the general public and charities to form the first fundraising committee.
This newly-formed committee oversaw the development and success of the Hospital Saturday and Sunday Appeals and introduced an industrial contribution scheme or what we would call today ‘workplace giving'. Within two years 80,000 city workers and trade unions members were making regular contributions from their weekly wages. It was a huge success.
During these early years the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation enjoyed corporate support from Herald and Weekly Times, The Myer Emporium, Carlton and United Breweries, National Bank of Australasia, International Harvester, the Victorian Football League and Young and Jackson's. Many of these organisations still make regular donations to the Foundation.
Over the years the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation has included Flower Day appeals and disaster relief fundraising for the Bush Fire Appeal in 1939 and Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.
More recent appeals include Give a Go for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the notable Heart of Melbourne appeal in support of homeless services. Last year the Heart of Melbourne appeal featured 14 well-known Melburnians to help raise awareness of the plight of 14,000 homeless living in Melbourne.
Today's event includes many special guests. Among them will be the Foundation's President Lord Mayor John So, Lady Mayoress Wendy Cheng and Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon.
On arrival guests will be greeted by The Salvation Army Band performing traditional Christmas carols and a jolly Santa who will hand out gifts assisted by players from Melbourne Football Club.
Guests will also be entertained by international performers from the spectacular Australian Institute of Magic Tim Ellis and Sue-Ann Webster.
Other entertainers include Mike Brady, Australian blues singer of the Year Steve Romig, and the Elwood Dad's Band featuring some of Melbourne's top musicians.
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