Community is a deeply embedded value at Dobbrick Financial Services. Whilst ensuring our clients’ financial security is our top priority, we are a family business and we care about making the world a better place. This is why we support the work of The Fortnum Foundation.
The mission of the Fortnum Foundation is to raise money for children in need by fostering their wellbeing and providing education and protection for them in Australia and overseas. Since its inception in 2011 the Foundation has raised over $600,000 for carefully selected charities including Love Mercy Foundation Australia, Zephyr Education, Mummy’s Wish and Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Paul Dobbrick joined Fire and Rescue NSW Charity Bike Ride from Beaudesert to Brisbane to raise money for the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Where possible our partners and staff get involved in fundraising activities. This has included Paul Dobbrick participating in the Fire and Rescue NSW Charity Bike Ride from Beaudesert to Brisbane to raise money for the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
ABOUT THE CHARITIES WE SUPPORT
Love Mercy Foundation Australia
Love Mercy exists to empower communities in Northern Uganda to overcome poverty caused by the horrors of war. Love Mercy began in 2010 in Sydney, Australia after Eloise Wellings, Australian Olympian, met Ugandan Olympian and former child soldier, Julius Achon.
Julius was taken from his home at the age of 11 and forced to become a child soldier. He overcame challenges that no child should face. After making two Olympic games and building a life in America, Julius returned to Uganda to help his communities who were suffering as a result of war.
After their meeting, Eloise promised to fulfill his dream of restoring hope to his village in Northern Uganda after decades of civil war. Love Mercy sees a future where Northern Uganda is transformed through simple solutions to poverty. This charity’s projects increase access to education, health care, and income generation and are funded entirely by generous donations from the public.
The Fortnum Foundation supports Love Mercy’s Cents for Seeds programme, a micro-loan initiative providing a sustainable livelihood for women and families in Northern Uganda. For a small $30 donation, a woman is provided with a 30kg loan of seeds such as beans or sesame, as well as a hand-held gardening tool, educational workshops, and access to savings groups. A 30kg loan can harvest a yield of between 150 and 300kgs.
17,000 women are now enrolled. In 2020 many sponsors of the charity have had to relinquish their support due to the economic impact of the Corona Virus. The Foundation’s continued support has been acknowledged as key to making possible the distribution of seeds done with masks, hand washing and social distancing.
Mummy’s Wish assists Australian families with children aged 12 years and under, through the provision of practical, immediate and non-means tested support whilst mum is receiving treatment for cancer.
Their work allows mums undergoing treatment to cope with their illness and meet the physical and emotional needs of a young family. They connect with the mums on diagnosis and are there to offer support during her full treatment journey.
Donations provide children whose education has been disrupted by domestic violence with uniforms, textbooks, stationery and everything else they need to get back to school.
Children often arrive at domestic violence shelters without their school uniforms and other school essentials. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that children who stand out from their classmates run a higher risk of being bullied.
Other charities the Foundation supports include Music Industry College, Aunties and Uncles, RPA Newborn Care, Children’s Hospital Foundation, Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation and Fire and Rescue NSW (for Children’s Burns Unit at Westmead Hospital).
The Fortnum Foundation was established in 2011 based on the notion of formalising goodwill that already existed among Fortnum Private Wealth. Funds are primarily raised from the Fortnum Practices and Fortnum Head Office to support the various Australian as well as overseas charities.
