Tag Archives: fundraising

SIDS and Kids

SIDS and Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood; and supporting bereaved families. They deliver on their vision through world class research; evidence based education and bereavement support; and advocacy.

SIDS and Kids

In Australia each year over 3,500 families experience the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child, either through stillbirth or during the first month of life, from sudden unexpected death in infancy (SIDS or fatal sleeping accidents), SUDC (sudden unexpected death in childhood) or accident.

Sadly, for many of these deaths there is no known cause. For example, more than half the deaths of unborn babies during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy each year are unexplained.

SIDS and Kids works to find answers for parents by funding and supporting vital research into stillbirth, SIDS and safe sleeping practices. Through evidence based community education we aim to prevent these deaths and we advocate for and support bereaved families.

Red Leaf Czech Glass Sterling Silver Autumn Earrings

I’ll be donating 10% of all The Silver Forge proceeds to this very worthy cause this month, so if you can help out, do pop into The Silver Forge shop and get yourself a little something at the same time!

White Ribbon

White Ribbon is Australia’s only national, male led campaign to end men’s violence against women. The White Ribbon vision is to have all women live in safety free from all forms of men’s violence. Their mission is making women’s safety a man’s issue too.

The campaign works through primary prevention initiatives involving awareness raising and education, and programs with youth, schools, workplaces and across the broader community.

White Ribbon Banner

White Ribbon’s website says “Intimate partner violence is the most common type of violence against women, affecting 30 per cent of women worldwide, according to the 2013 World Health Organization report ‘Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence’.

Violence against women is a serious problem in Australia, where:

  • Over 12 months, on average, one woman is killed every week as a result of intimate partner violence.
  • A woman is most likely to be killed by her male partner in her home.
  • Domestic and family violence is the principle cause of homelessness for women and their children.
  • Intimate partner violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and ill-health in Australian women aged 15-44.
  • One in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them.
  • One in four children are exposed to domestic violence, which is a recognised form of child abuse.
  • The cost of violence against women to the Australian economy is estimated to rise to $15.6 billion per annum.
  • One in five women experience harassment within the workplace.
  • One in five women over 18 has been stalked during her lifetime.”

White Cone Czech Glass and Sterling Silver Earrings

I’ll be donating 10% of all The Silver Forge sales for September to this very worthy cause, so if you’d like to help out, head over and and get yourself or a woman you love a little something from The Silver Forge shop, knowing that you’ll be making a difference.

Australian Koala Foundation

After a recent school excursion to the lovely Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre, which was much enjoyed by grownups and children alike, I have chosen the Australian Koala Foundation to be this month’s worthy cause.

Aust Koala Foundation

Koalas are in danger. Koalas in the wild face a series of threats to their continued survival mostly stemming from destruction of their habitat for human uses and associated threats like cars, dogs and disease.

The mission of the Australian Koala Foundation is to diminish the threat to the survival of koalas and to increase global consciousness and to reverse the rapid degeneration of all the world’s flora and fauna.

Drusy Agate Earrings - Grassy Green Druzy Agate and Sterling Silver Drop Earrings

I’ll be donating 10% of all The Silver Forge sales for August to this worthy cause, so if you can, get behind it and treat yourself to something lovely from my shop at the same time!

UNICEF

UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF’s vision is of a world where the basic rights of every child will be met.

Unicef Banner

UNICEF works in over 190 countries to promote and protect the rights of children. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, clean water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and HIV.

Every child deserves these basic provisions, and I’m proud to support UNICEF this month with 10% of all The Silver Forge sales.

Ombre Blue Czech Glass and Sterling Silver Earrings

Head to The Silver Forge shop now for a browse, and see how you can help!

Endeavour Foundation Gala

Butterfly with Blue and Orange Wings Resting (photo credit Katherine Sevon)

Butterfly with Blue and Orange Wings Resting (photo credit Katherine Sevon)

 

The Endeavour Foundation is one of Queensland’s oldest charities, founded in 1951. It is one of the largest non-government disability service providers in Australia. They support more than 3,400 people with a disability, from 230 locations in Queensland and New South Wales.

 

Endeavour Foundation

 

This year, the Endeavour Foundation are holding their 63rd Anniversary Gala on 21st June, and I was contacted by them to see if I could assist with a donation for this fundraising effort.

 

Endeavour Foundation Gala

 

I’m really pleased to be supporting the Endeavour Foundation again, as I did last year.

Smoky Blue Autumn Leaf Czech Glass and Sterling Silver Contemporary Earrings

 

It is good to know that in our wide and varied community, those who face the challenges in their daily lives that living with a disability presents are able to be supported and nurtured; advocated for and given opportunities to learn and grow and have their varying needs met. I have donated a raffle prize to assist with Endeavour’s fundraising effort, and I look forward to seeing what the prize winner chooses from The Silver Forge shop!

 

Orange Earrings - Jelly Czech Glass and Sterling Silver Earrings

The Ocean Cleanup

It’s a very scary thought – since we humans started making plastic, millions of tons of it have entered our oceans. Plastic NEVER biodegrades, and so it simply bobs around in the sea. Due to the movement of the water around the world, this discarded rubbish concentrates in five rotating currents, called gyres. The Ocean Cleanup is developing world’s first feasible method to rid the oceans of plastic. The Ocean Cleanup’s goal is to extract, prevent, and intercept plastic pollution by initiating the largest cleanup in history.

 

At least one million seabirds and one hundred thousand marine mammals die each year due to plastic pollution. The survival of many species could be jeopardized by plastic debris. On top of that, plastic pollution is a carrier of invasive species, threatening native ecosystems, to say nothing of the economic and health effects this plastic waste has on human beings.

While diving in Greece, Boyan Slat became frustrated when coming across more plastic bags than fish, and wondered: “why can’t we clean this up?” He decided to dedicate half a year of research to understand plastic pollution and the problems associated with cleaning it up. This ultimately led to the passive cleanup concept, The Ocean Cleanup. A team of approximately 100 committed people, performing research in the fields of engineering, physical oceanography, ecology, finance, maritime law, processing and recycling, are all working to make this concept a reality.

Ocean Cleanup Concept

An array of floating barriers and platforms are attached to the sea bed to concentrate the plastic before extracting it from the ocean – a collection process which is 100% driven by the natural winds and currents. Instead of nets, solid floating barriers make entanglement of wildlife impossible. Virtually all of the current flows underneath these booms, taking away all neutrally buoyant organisms, while the lighter-than-water plastic remains in front of the floating barrier, up to the microscopically sized particles. The scalable array of moorings and booms is designed for large-scale deployment, covering millions of square kilometers. Thanks to its projected high capture and field efficiency, a single gyre can be covered in just 5 years. The method is theoretically highly cost-effective.

 

What worthier cause than the health of our beautiful oceans? 10% of all The Silver Forge sales will be donated to The Ocean Cleanup this month. Head to my shop now to help out, won’t you? I love to support enterprising and hardworking people dedicating themselves to the future of our planet!

Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors

Steve Irwin – a man of passion and integrity, who did his utmost to change the way the world views wildlife. His tireless work for his worthy cause and his legendary enthusiasm have always captured my heart, and the hearts of millions of us all around the world.

Irwin, Terri - Steve and Me

I read ‘Steve and Me’ a while back, written by Steve’s wife Terri; as well as being a great and moving read it further increased my admiration for both Steve and Terri and their wonderful work, and inspired me to do something – however small – to help. Without wildlife, we are nothing, and the conservation of nature is incredibly important.

Wildlife Warriors

Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors are carrying on Steve’s legacy. Wildlife Warriors believe that people, wildlife and habitat should be able to survive and prosper without being detrimental to the existence of each other. Their objectives are:

To protect and enhance the natural environment
To provide information and education to the public and raise awareness of wildlife issues
To undertake biological research
To research, recommend and act in the protection of threatened or endangered species.
To enter into cooperative arrangements with like-minded organisations

Apple Green Czech Glass Tube and Sterling Silver Earrings

I am proud to support Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors this month, by donating 10% of sales from The Silver Forge. Shop up and help save the planet!

 

 

{title photo credit – Guillaume Blanchard}

Twilight Market – Fundraising for Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia

Little Bee Echinacea

Little Bee (photo credit JaneEmma Photography)

 

If you’re in Brisbane on Friday 2nd May, between 4.00 and 7.00pm a Twilight Market is being held by the Creche & Kindergarten Northside Family Day Care Educators Association at ‘The Community Place’ on Teevan Street, Stafford. The market is being held to raise funds for Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia. As my son is allergic to nuts, this is a cause close to my heart!

 

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia

 

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) is a charitable, not for profit organisation. Their aim is to improve awareness of allergy in the Australian community.

 

Navy Blue Oblong Teardrop Czech Glass Sterling Silver Contemporary Dangle Earrings

 

I am setting up a Silver Forge stall at the twilight market, and will be donating 10% of all sales made during the market to this very worthy cause.  There will be food stalls, art and craft, a playground, face painting and much more. Come and have Carmen’s delicious Sri Lankan food or a fab sausage sizzle for dinner, let the kids race around, and be home in time for bedtime and a nice cup of tea! Make sure you stop by the stall and say hello – I’d love to see you there!

Red Cross Australia

Red Phone (photo credit Jake Cecil)

Red Phone (photo credit Jake Cecil)

The Red Cross. Celebrating 100 years of helping people here in Australia in 2014, they’re a household name and a bit of an icon!

Red Cross Banner

Red Cross Australia help people nationally and globally. They provide assistance in many diverse areas. We’ve all had some experience with them, whether they’ve helped in a time of need, or you’ve seen their humanitarian work on TV. As well as providing timely assistance in times of disaster, the little daily services provided are just as laudable. Someone very close to me, due to her age, receives a daily phone call from a Red Cross volunteer just to check that she is ok.

Red Cross Australia began as a branch of the British Red Cross Society on 13 August 1914 at Government House, Melbourne, nine days after the outbreak of World War I. Throughout the decades, The Red Cross have focused on social welfare, national emergencies, natural disasters, building the blood bank and first aid programs. Today one million Red Cross members, volunteers, donors, staff, blood donors, recipients and supporters make a positive difference to the lives of people in need every day.

Red Cross Help

From responding to large scale disasters to tackling disadvantage and helping vulnerable children and supporting families facing personal crisis, The Red Cross are there for everyone in need. Their watchwords are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. To me, all of these traits are most admirable in a charitable organisation!

I urge you to consider The Red Cross as a great organisation to donate to. It doesn’t have to be monetary – giving blood is a great way to help out. I went just the other day, and it really isn’t a big deal – plenty of TLC and snacks provided, too!

Vermilion Red Faceted Czech Glass and Sterling Silver Contemporary Earrings

This month, 10% of all The Silver Forge sales will be donated to Red Cross Australia. If you’d like to treat yourself to a little something, and help a very worthy cause, head over to The Silver Forge shop now!

Lifeline Australia

Save Our Souls (photo credit elgarboart)

Save Our Souls (photo credit elgarboart)

There is a new call to Lifeline every minute somewhere in Australia. It is estimated that every day, 180 people attempt suicide. That’s more than one new attempt in Australia every 10 minutes.

Lifeline Logo

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-44. Suicide accounts for more than one in five deaths of younger Australians. Men account for four out of every five deaths by suicide. More people die from suicide in Australia than in road related transport deaths. More people die from suicide in Australia than from skin cancer.

The Gap

Lifeline provides access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services. Lifeline also provides national services and campaigns that promote emotional wellbeing, encourage help seeking, and address suicide prevention and awareness. They currently answer around 1,800 calls each day, with around 50 calls from people at high risk of suicide. 

If you, or anyone you know, are in crisis, or experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings, please talk to someone, and get help. Lifeline are only a phone call away. Phone their 24 hour crisis line on

13 11 14

 

Navy Blue and Sterling Silver Cathedral Style Czech Glass Dangle Earrings

We all have a role to play in suicide prevention. My life, and the lives of many of us, have been affected by the suicide of loved ones, and I will be donating 10% of all The Silver Forge sales this month to this very worthy cause. Please help if you can.