From the CEO

United Way Queensland is one of 4000 United Way organisations in 46 countries galvanising business, government and nonprofit organisations to make a difference for the common good of their communities.

This message was loud and clear at the recent United World Wide conference Mobilising for Impact in Washington DC. If we want to improve the conditions and address the challenges that face our communities we need to work together – to mobilise our resources – to affect change.  The keen observers of United Way will know that United Way is developing a strategic approach to address the issues that affect our communities. 

An International Experience. Introducing Our Interns...

Our names are Lieke Verhoeven and Gemma Staal and we are both 23 years old. We are two Dutch students who study Leisure Management, majoring in Event Management at the Academy for Leisure in Breda. At the moment we are 3rd year students and have a placement as interns for United Way Queensland. We started our internship in December 2009 and will finish in June 2010.

Together we are organizing and coordinating the exciting ‘Local Eyes Brisbane’ project.

A New Photographic Exhibition for Brisbane

United Way Queensland is proud to announce a new event on the Brisbane Arts Calendar.  Local Eyes is a unique photographic competition and exhibition that will showcase images themed ‘The Brisbane community through a different lens’. We all have an image of Brisbane in our mind’s eye.  We all know what it looks like, how it works and feels. But our view of Brisbane is just one perspective of the thousands of people who live in Brisbane.  Pairing members from United Way Queensland’s Community Partners with mentors from the corporate sector and Queensland College of Art, participants will photograph their perspectives of Brisbane’s wider community.

A United Way Queensland Supporter...

An interview with Paul Calvert – Solicitor, Gadens Lawyers.

Paul is a solicitor in Gadens’ Construction and Infrastructure team and has been involved with Gadens’ Brisbane United Way Committee since it began. He has also been a member of the United Way Allocations Committee for the past two years.  Gadens Lawyers have been long time supporters of United Way Queensland. As a valued Corporate Partner Paul recently agreed to an interview discussing aspects of Gadens community involvement. We captured Paul giving a practical demonstration of Gaden’s corporate volunteering at Othila’s Young women’s Housing and Support Service.

Good Morning Paul, we know that Gadens Lawyers has a substantial commitment to corporate community engagement.  Could you tell me a little about how you achieve this here in the Brisbane office and a little about your national program?

“Each office in the Gadens’ network engages with the community in different ways.

Community Partner News...

Elizabeth Milne, United Way Queensland’s Community Partner Manager, recently embarked on a ‘getting to know you’ regional tour, visiting seven of our Community Partners. Even with regular phone and email contact Elizabeth did not feel she had an in depth knowledge of the organisations and their local communities.

Every Child’s Dream - A Brand New Bike...

United Way Queensland in conjunction with sponsors Brisbane City Council, Gold Cross Cycles and the Queensland Government, Queensland Health is making that dream come true for many children throughout the greater Brisbane region with the Bikes4Kids program...

CBA at Foodbank

Foodbank Queensland were absolutely delighted when two teams from Commonwealth Bank Australia arrived for a day of sorting and packing nutritious food ready the 70,000 families each week who would go hungry if not for Foodbank and its extensive networks and distribution centre.  CBA volunteers quickly rolled up their sleeves and set to work unloading from pallets and packing into 1 tonne bulk containers.  Teamwork was required to keep up to speed and by the end of the day approximately 8 to 10 tonnes of Velish soup, poppers and cereals were ready for the numerous charities to collect. Did you know that Foodbank Queensland distributes 600,000 tonnes of fresh healthy food each month?

Colliers at Youth Enterprise Trust

Programs at Youth Enterprise Trust, for young people at risk, are held in a beautiful bushland setting at the base of Mt Tamborine.  Part of that bushland needed taming and the willing volunteers from Colliers Brisbane office geared up for the challenge laying a concrete pathway, clearing the undergrowth and restoring tired garden beds.  It was serious physical work but also a time to work together on a worthwhile project.  ‘Rewarding, challenging, exhausting, fun’ were some of the comments made about this corporate volunteering day.  The results were amazing and provided a much improved setting for the young people who face many challenges in their lives.  One of the volunteers remarked ...”very enjoyable day getting to know my work colleagues better and learn a new skill path building.”

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Fast Facts 2009

$191,284 distributed in 2009 as a result of United Way Queensland working with generous Corporate Partners.

$116,870 from The Good Guys to,

Alzheimer’s Association Qld; ARC Disability Services; Aspley Special School; BABI Youth & Family Support; Bundaberg Meals on Wheels; CanTeen Aust; Childhood Cancer Support; Cootharinga Society of North Qld; Epilepsy Qld; Far North Coast Centre for Autism; Far North Qld Hospital Foundation; Friends of the Pound Tweed; FSG Australia; Heartkids Qld; House with No Steps NSW; Integrated Family and Youth Services; Leukaemia Foundation Darling Downs; Mackay Hospital Renal Unit; Mackay Meals on Wheels; Paradise Kids; PCYC’s at Bayside, Bundaberg, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Redlands, Toowoomba, Zillmere; Royal Flying Doctor Service; RSPCA Qld; The Spot Community Services; St Vincent’s Hospital Toowoomba; Sunshine Coast Health Foundation; Tweed Palliative Care NSW; Urangan Point State School.

$38,680 from Avery Dennison, Colliers International, Frucor, Fuji Xerox, Gadens Lawyers, Mercer, Macquarie Telecom, Zurich, Genworth and Stockland

Queensland Community Chest Allocations to,
Bundaberg Meals on Wheels; Mackay PCYC; Aunties and Uncles; Noah’s Ark; Prescare; Othila’s Young Womens Housing and Support Service; Brisbane Youth Service; CP League.

$35,734 from KPMG; Ernst & Young; Stockland; Genworth; Frucor; Macquarie Telecom; Fuji Zerox; Mercer; Zurich

Workplace Giving Charity of Choice to,
Abused Child Trust; Alzheimer’s Aust; Amnesty International; Arthritis Fdn Qld; Assistance Dogs; Asthma Fdn Qld; Australian Ballet Fund; Berry Street Victoria; Beyond Blue Ltd; Aust Cancer Research Fdn; Aust Red Cross; Autism Qld; Brisbane Youth Service; Camp Quality; Cancer Council Aust; Cancer Council Qld; CanTeen; CARE Aust Project Fund; Caritas Aust; Catholic Overseas Mission Aid; Child Fund Aust; Childhood Cancer Support; Children’s Cancer Institute Aust; Christian Blind Mission International Aust; City Care Brisbane; Compassion Australia; Cystic Fibrosis Qld; Epilepsy Assoc; Family Radio Cultural Development; Food Bank Qld; Fdn for National Parks and Wildlife; Fred Hollows Fdn; Guide Dogs for the Blind Qld; Hear and Say Centre; Heartkids; Juvenile Diabetes Research; Kids Under Cover; Zoe’s Place; Legacy Fund of Brisbane, Leprosy Mission Aust; Lifeline Aust; Mater Hospital Trust; Make A Wish Fdn; Medecins San Frontiers, Mission Australia; Movember; Muscular Dystrophy Assoc; National Breast Cancer Fdn; National Heart Fdn. Oxfam Aust; Paradise Kids; Prostate Cancer Fdn; Pyjama Fdn; Queensland Ballet Fund; Queensland Orchestras Fund; Queensland Theatre Company; Qld Positive People; Royal Flying Doctor Service; RSPCA Aust; Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital; Sacred heart Mission St Kilda; Salvation Army; The Smith Family; Society of St Vincent de Paul; Starlight Children’s Fdn; Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Support Qld; Surf Lifesaving Fdn; UNICEF Aust Children’s Fund; Wilderness Society; Wild Mountain Trust; Wildlife Warriors Public Fund; World Vision Aust; WWF Aust; Yalari; Youngcare.

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