Being involved in the BAA is not only about the fabulous lunches and great networking opportunities. The BAA are proud supporters of a small number of QLD based children's charities. Committee members engage in regular communications with our chosen charities by inviting spokespersons to out monthly meetings and by visiting the various organisations we support. It is during these visits that we get the chance to see our donations at work and learn how we can do more to help.
We feel proud of what we have achieved and will continue to achieve. Each raffle ticket you buy helps to make a significant difference in a little person's life. To learn more about who you are helping, please read on.
Thank you all so much for you continued support!
The Hear and Say Centre
A new charity to BAA in 2007, the Hear and Say Centre is a charity organisation dedicated to children who are deaf / hearing impaired and their families.The Centre aims for its children to achieve speech and language in the normal range for their age by six years of age giving them the opportunity for a mainstream education, employment of choice and social integration with the hearing world.
The first step BAA have taken is to sponsor gorgeous baby Jodie who is currently undergoing assessment for a cochlear implant. So far BAA have donated $10,000 and will continue to donate $10,000 per year for three years. Jodie has had her first stages of treatment and her last language assessment put her within the normal range to her normally hearing peers.
This year, BAA are delighted to announce that we have pledged $30,000 toward another little girl's treatment over the next three years. Little Erica is 1 year and 6 months old and has already had two cochlear implants. Our financial support will give Erica access to the intensive therapy that she desperately needs as part of her treatment.
Follow the link to the Hear and Say website to learn more:
The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation - Working Wonders
The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation are the charity attached to the Royal Children's Hospital. The hospital in equipped with 160 beds for sick and injured children, a wide spread of community-based medical clinics, an outreach program caring for regional kids and telephone help lines for poisons and child health. Their support and services touch the lives of over 100,000 children each year.In 2007, BAA donated $10,000 towards two initiatives of the RCHF. In 2008, we are dedicating $15,000 to the royal Children's Hospital Tumor Bank.
The Tumor Bank is a collection of samples, donated by cancer patients, placed in long term storage and made available to research scientists for investigations aimed at improving treatment and outcomes for children with cancer. The new Queensland based Tumor Bank will allow researchers easier access to cancer specimens such as tumor, bone marrow and blood samples for more detailed study.
The Starlight Foundation
The BAA have supported the Starlight Children's foundation for over five years. In 2006, we were able to raise around $20,000.The Starlight Children's foundation exists to brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and teens. Since 1988 Starlight has delivered innovative "Distinctive Therapy Programs" within hospital environments, with the endorsement and support of the healthcare profession. Programs are designed to be an integral part of the total health care of children.
There are 600,000 child admissions to hospitals each year across Australia with Starlight currently reaching only "1 in 3". Many more children are in need of Starlight's help. By 2010, Starlight is aiming to give all seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families the opportunity to access and benefit from its wonderful programs.
Starlight's hospital programs include Starlight Express Rooms, Starlight Fun Centres and Starlight Express Vans. All of which aim to bring smiles to the faces of hospitalised children, using fun and entertainment as a positive distraction to pain and boredom. Out of hospital, Starlight kids and their families can relax and enjoy family outings provided by Starlight Escapes or share a once-in-a-lifetime experience through the Starlight Wishgranting program.
