There are some great fundraisers across south west Sydney and up near the very top – if not the very top – has to be the annual Narellan Rotary Club’s charity ball.
The ball earns a stack of funds for great local causes, and this year’s was no exception: it raised almost $600,000.
One of the main beneficiaries was the Ingham Institute, which received a total of $155,000 – thanks to the generosity of those who attended Narellan Rotary’s “Friends of Rotary’’ charity ball last Saturday (August 8).
Held at Liverpool Catholic Club, this year’s ball saw the Ingham Institute receive a cheque for $75,000 from long time supporter and iconic Australian philanthropist Lady Mary Fairfax.
On top of this, the institute also received a total of seven significant donations dedicated to breast cancer, diabetes and mental health research on the night.
The collection of donations was led by the Perich Group, who gave $20,000 for diabetes research and injecting a further $10,000 for mental health research.
Dartwest Developments, Douglas Partners and MainVue Homes each gave $10,000 for breast cancer research, whilst Nepean Engineering pledged $10,000 for mental health research and Calibre Consulting committed $10,000 for diabetes.
This year’s event marked the seventh consecutive year that the Ingham Institute received a significant donation from Lady Fairfax at the Narellan Rotary Club event.
Ingham Institute chairman Terry Goldacre, who received the cheques on behalf of the institute, said he was both gratified and honoured to receive the generous donations.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“On behalf of the Ingham Institute and its research team, we are elated by Lady Fairfax’s consistent, overwhelming support which began right from the very beginning of the inception of the institute,” Mr Goldacre said.[/social_quote]
“This year’s Narellan Rotary Ball has also seen the dedicated research donations for the institute more than double the number generated last year which is a monumental result and a testament to the benevolent spirit of corporate organisations here in Macarthur and south west Sydney.”
Ingham Institute chief operating officer, associate professor Greg Kaplan said that the research donations are a timely booster for the institute’s researchers, with many vying for limited and competitive government grants to continue their important work – highlighting the important role that corporate philanthropy plays.
“Generous corporate philanthropists like the Perich Group, Dartwest Developments, Douglas Partners, MainVue Homes, Nepean Engineering and Calibre Consulting are the lifeblood of the future of medical research,” he said.
“These donations will go a long way in helping the institute’s researchers achieve more breakthroughs that will lead to the development of new treatments specifically in the areas of breast cancer, diabetes and mental health,” Prof Kaplan said.
Ruth Morrison, the secretary of the Rotary Club of Narellan, also commended Perich Group, Dartwest Developments, Douglas Partners, MainVue Homes, Nepean Engineering and Calibre Consulting for their massive contributions.
“This year’s Friends of Rotary Ball raised over $593,000 to support local charities that directly participate in the South West and Macarthur regions,’’ Ms Morrison said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Again the club is humbled by the generosity it has received this year from the community with the number of donations increasing on past years.[/social_quote]
“Without the generosity of corporate philanthropists like these, Rotary clubs everywhere would not be able to continue their support of worthwhile causes and charities in their areas.”
