Third-parties come to the party for a good cause

At Canberra Hospital Foundation, we are incredibly lucky to have an array of third-party fundraisers who support the work we do.

For those unfamiliar, third-party fundraising involves individuals or organisations outside a non-profit that raise funds on its behalf.

Often driven by a personal connection to the cause or a desire to contribute to a community effort, third-party fundraisers play a crucial role in enhancing a non-profit’s impact on its community.

By engaging with their own networks, third-party fundraisers can introduce new supporters to the cause and host unique fundraising events.

Their efforts come in all shapes and sizes, from large-scale events that draw significant community attention to smaller, more homegrown activities that foster deep connections.

This diversity of efforts reflects the diversity of our community, and each fundraiser, regardless of its scale, plays a vital role in enabling us to enhance exceptional healthcare for people in Canberra and our surrounding regions.

One of our dedicated third-party fundraisers, Alex McDonald, was one of many motivated to do some good after a personal experience.

Alex launched ‘Love From Penny & Lyla’, a project designed to support loss parents through care boxes.

“After losing two babies through miscarriage and neonatal death over the past couple of years, I realised I had a deep desire to try to help others after the loss of their baby,” Alex says.

Initially, Alex hoped to manage the project herself, but the complexities of starting a charity proved challenging.

“I realised it wouldn’t be sustainable alongside full-time work,” she says.

Alex found the support she needed at Canberra Hospital Foundation, opting to become a third-party fundraiser.

“The team at Canberra Hospital Foundation provides advice, support and administrative oversight and helps with my ideas.

“By leaving the hard bit to them, I can focus on fundraising, providing care boxes and connecting with new loss parents.

“For anyone who has an idea or who wants to help others but isn’t sure how to do it, I really encourage you to see how they can help you make it a reality.”

Community engagement is at the heart of third-party fundraising, and the Canberra Torana Club exemplifies this beautifully.

Not only are they car enthusiasts, but they are also deeply committed to supporting their community. In 2023, they generously donated $8500.

This remarkable gift was made possible through event entry fees and gold coin donations collected during the Carpet One Canberra Torana Nationals in March of that year.

This is a great example of what is possible when a group of people and their supporters are moved to act for the greater good.

Other notable third-party fundraisers include Mix 106.3’s ‘Give Me Five’ campaign, which runs in June and has raised over $1 million since 2012 to support children in hospital.

Dry July, another annual fundraiser, supports patients and families at the Canberra Region Cancer Centre, benefiting adult cancer patients greatly.

Every year, Costco offers Canberra the opportunity to support families and healthcare teams in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Nursery (SCN) at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children just by shopping during Newborn November.

Whether you organise your own or support an existing third-party fundraiser, you will positively impact your community.

Join us on 26 September for Can Give Day, Canberra Hospital Foundation’s flagship fundraising event, where the Canberra community comes together to celebrate our healthcare workers while making a huge impact on the lives of our patients and their families.

Every dollar donated on Can Give Day will have double the impact. Thanks to our generous matched donors, your $1 becomes $2, $25 becomes $50 and $50 becomes $100.

This means your contribution will go twice as far in making a difference. It’s also the perfect opportunity to flex your third-party fundraising muscles by hosting a morning tea, having a bake sale, or raffling off an irresistible hamper.

If you prefer to hitch your buggy to someone else’s wagon, you can throw your support behind a Big Wig or Master Cook.

If you want to get active, why not register a team and take part in Can Golf Day, proudly supported by Workday? Whatever your support looks like this Can Give Day, you are making an impact.

For more information, visit Canberra Hospital Foundation.