FI-A Victorian Awards

A Victorian organisation urging donors to lock up a friend to raise money is among the winners at the Fundraising Institute – Australia’s Victorian Awards for Excellence.

Announcing the award winners, the newly appointed Consumer Affairs Minister John Lenders said the six winning organisations had gone to extraordinary lengths to help others.

Lenders said the organisations have implemented innovative and creative campaigns to raise money and win community support.

He said all winners have done an excellent job and special praise goes to ParaQuad Victoria, a support agency for paraplegics and quadriplegics, who ran a memorable campaign.

ParaQuad asked donors to ‘lock up’ a friend or colleague and raise funds for the organisation by buying back their freedom. Their campaign kit came complete with a set of handcuffs.

Another innovative winner was the Western Health Service in Hamilton, who worked with the community and local newspapers outlets to raise funds for the Grange Hostel.

Victoria had a record number of 17 outstanding applications to the Chapter
One Awards for Excellence for 2002. The presentation luncheon was the biggest ever with166 people attending.

Michelle Trevorrow who initiated the award-winning Peter Mac Direct Mail Program 2002-2002 says the budget for the year was $700,000 and the results were $1.1million. The key was to make their mail packages stand out.

Fundraising Institute – Australia (FI-A) Victorian president John Allen said all award winners had achieved outstanding results.

Allen said the awards recognise the professionalism and effectiveness of fundraising organisations whilst ensuring that people donating know they are giving money to a worthy and legitimate cause.

He said the FI-A and the Victorian Government are committed to ensuring that Victorians who support community causes can be assured of the highest integrity from recipient organisations.

Mr Lenders said the Bracks Government introduced new legislation in February to support ethical fundraising and stamp out dishonest practices.

He said this legislation has improved the operating environment for honest operators and given Consumer Affairs Victoria more powers to enforce the law.

The winners:

 Western Health Service, located in Hamilton, for the “The Grange Redevelopment Appeal” in the Capital Appeal category A*.
 Kindergarten Parents Vic, located in Northcote, for the “2002 KPV Caring For Kids Raffle” in the Other Program category A.
 MECWA, located in East Malvern, for “Behind Closed Doors” in the Budget Acquisition category B*.
 Plan, located in Melbourne, “Sponsorship Conversion ‘Older Child’ Campaign” in the Budget Renewal category B.
 Peter Macallum Cancer Institute Victoria, located in East Melbourne, for “Peter Mac Direct Mail Program 2002-2002” in the Other Program category B.
 ParaQuad Victoria, located in Collingwood, for “Break Out” in the Special Events category B.

(*A- for organisations that raise less than $500,000 per annum.)
(*B- for organisations that raise more than $500,000 per annum.)

Congratulations to all the winners as well as all those putting innovation into the tough arena of fundraising!