Variety WA and Ronald McDonald House Charities are two longstanding organisations in WA that have been making a difference for children and families in WA – and they need your help.
Hearts and Minds recognises the act of giving that makes a difference to the lives of those less fortunate for Include a Charity Week while highlighting the important work not-for-profit organisations are doing across WA,
There are more than a dozen charities in the Hearts and Minds community – Accordwest, Activ Foundation, Anglicare WA, Foodbank WA, Good Sammy, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Royal Flying Doctor Service, St Bart’s, St John Ambulance, Uniting WA, Variety WA, The Y, and zero2hero.
Without corporate, individual and government support, these charitable organisations wouldn’t be able to achieve the work they do to help the community.
It’s about finding a cause you care about and seeing where you can leave a mark and a legacy to make a difference to people’s lives to make the community and the world at large a better place.
Supporting sick kids in WA for over 30 years
Ronald McDonald House Charities WA provides accommodation, education programs and services support for patient and family wellbeing far from homes, jobs, schools and loved ones, at no cost.
“We are here for WA families from every corner of this vast state, at a time when they need us most, we keep families together, and close to the medical care they need,” RMHC WA chief executive Peter King said.
Families can access RMHC WA support for as long or as regularly as they need. This can be days, months and sometimes years.
“More families are reaching out for our support each year beyond our capacity,” Mr King said. “The support of all Western Australians will help us to grow and ensure no family who needs our support is turned away.”
RMHC WA relies on the kindness of community and corporate support to deliver services to families with sick kids. “We work professionally with all supporters to ensure they understand the importance and impact of their giving,” Mr King said.
“Options for corporate organisations include Adopt a Room, sponsorship of our services, volunteering and participating in a corporate team for the overnight walking marathon Up All Night. Individual donors can support through regular giving or one-off donations,” he said.
There is a comprehensive list of giving opportunities on the RMHC WA website.
“RMHC WA's mission and delivery of service to families means that we align well with many corporate organisations’ CSR [corporate social responsibility] and their corporate giving priorities,” explained Mr King, who was featured in Business News’ Power 500 in 2022 and 2023 for healthcare and social services.
“RMHC WA is part of a global network of over 386 houses across 49 countries and regions. Our programs and practices are backed by global research and advancing the practice of family-centered care within the Western Australian maternity, child and adolescent health systems.
“In Western Australia, RMHC has been supporting WA families with sick kids for over 30 years. In 2015, we introduced support to maternity patients in partnership with King Edward Memorial Hospital,” Mr King said.
RMHC WA plays a unique role in enabling, facilitating and supporting family-centred care within the Western Australian maternity, child and adolescent health systems.
“We create programs and delivery services for children and their families that positively impact their health and wellbeing,” said Mr King, who was featured in Business News’ Power 500 in 2022 and 2023 under healthcare and social services.
Making a big difference with Workplace Giving
Workplace Giving is living proof that small change can make a big difference. The initiative offers an easy way for corporate organisations to support charities and give back to the community.
Rather than one large donation, you can set up donations through your payroll system and make multiple small donations over the year.
Variety WA’s CEO, Chris Chatterton, who joined the organisation this year, said that Workplace Giving is a simple, cost-effective way for people to support Variety WA and local kids living with disability, sickness or experiencing disadvantage.
“By giving less than $2 per week, for example, you can give comfort to a child in crisis by providing them with a Variety Sunshine Pack – a backpack filled with everything a child needs to help them settle in on their first night in foster or out of home care,” he said.
“In addition to workplace giving, Variety can work with your business to tailor a partnership that energises and engages staff through volunteering, events, sponsorship opportunities and more. At the same time, demonstrating the tangible impact your support has on the lives of WA kids statewide.”
As the Children’s Charity of WA, Variety WA provides practical support for Western Australian children across the state who are living with disability, sickness or experiencing disadvantage through the provision of equipment grants, programs, scholarships and special experiences.
“We focus on filling the gaps and providing support where no government or other assistance is readily available,” said Katie O'Donnell, Variety WA’s Executive Manager, who has worked with the charity for more than 20 years after receiving a scholarship when she was younger.
“I have been fortunate to have been with Variety for a number of years, and have seen huge growth in our programs and number of children we’re able to reach.”
Here’s how you can help WA kids in need through Variety WA.
Stay in the loop with what the not-for-profit sector is doing across WA with Hearts and Minds articles published weekly on Business News.
