Salvos Issue Challenge to Business Leaders
30 April 2009 at 4:00 pm
The Salvos have issued a call to the business community for generosity in personal giving, in addition to corporate giving, as 400 Sydney business leaders attended this weeks 2009 Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal launch.
Salvos Spokesman, Major Paul Kinder said that with budgets for corporate philanthropy tightening, the Salvoswill be relying more than ever on generous individuals with the capacity to make significant gifts on top of their company giving.
Kinder says this year, Australians have faced – and supported each other through – not only the economic downturn, but unprecedented natural disasters. For The Salvation Army also, across the cities and the bush, these issues have placed greater than ever demand upon our services, with more people turning to them for help.
National patron of the Red Shield Appeal, Governor General Quentin Bryce, also called for continued generosity in the current climate.
The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, which includes a business appeal, direct mail campaign and national doorknock, has a national target of $73 million. In Sydney the target is $19 million. This year, the doorknock component of the appeal will be held on the weekend of 23-24 May.
Major Paul Kinder says the Salvos need to reach their Appeal goals if they are to maintain vital social programs in the year ahead at a cost of more than $500 million. These services include crisis support accommodation, youth support, employment services, addiction recovery, emergency services, chaplaincy, outback flying services, telephone counselling and family tracing, to mention but some of our services.
The Salvos’ website is at www.salvos.org.au