Independent raises a whopping amount for the Canberra Hospital Foundation. From left: Ann Ronning from the Canberra Hospital Foundation with Samantha Milin, Courtney-Ann Emerysmith, Kate Hallam and Grace Hooper from Independent. Photo: Thomas Lucraft, Region Media.
When one of Canberra’s largest property management teams puts its mind to helping a great cause, the results are truly inspirational.
Independent’s property management team, which has around 50 staff in the capital, raised more than $12,500 for the Canberra Hospital Foundation in one of their 2019 Christmas fundraisers.
The money will be directed towards the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. Since opening in 2012, the hospital has helped thousands of babies start their lives, as well as providing world class gynaecology, maternity, neonatal, paediatric and adolescent care.
The fundraising idea is part and parcel of Independent’s generous community spirit and very much in line with the company’s values, says Grace Hooper, Head of Property Management Growth at Independent.
“We decided that Christmas is so much about children and so the Centenary Hospital was a logical choice for our fundraiser,” Hooper says. “It also made sense because many of our team members have kids and that added to the motivation levels.”
The cheque – for precisely $12,475.22 – was handed over on 28 January.
“We reached for the sky and set an ambitious target of $10,000,” Hooper says. “We’re thrilled we went well past that.”
One way Independent raised funds for the Canberra Hospital Foundation was with a sausage sizzle and bake sale. Photo: Supplied.
To get the job done, the Independent’s property management team dug deep, including by donating items for a silent auction. They appealed to other members of the Independent family on the property development and sales sides, who threw their support behind the initiative. They also encouraged others, including the tradespeople Independent uses, to lend their support.
“In addition to a large number of silent auction items, we held a sausage sizzle and a bake sale to supplement funds raised,” Hooper says. “I was personally blown away by how generous everyone was.”
Ann Ronning, Director of Community Engagement at the Canberra Hospital Foundation, says every dollar will go to good use.
“The funds raised through Independent’s Christmas appeal will help Paediatrics at the Canberra Hospital buy new play equipment and toys for children being treated in outpatient clinic waiting rooms and consult rooms throughout Canberra,” Ronning says. “From trikes and scooters to wooden blocks and art supplies, Independent’s generosity will help to create welcoming and engaging environments that support play, as well as assist assessments of development for the thousands of children seen by the Canberra Health Services network over the coming year.”
It takes big hearts to raise funds at Christmas time. The Independent property management team was more than happy to help (Ann Ronning, Director Community Engagement, Canberra Hospital Foundation, second from right). Photo: Thomas Lucraft, Region Media.
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