Diners Making a Difference
Dedicated staff at Australian restaurants, along with their enthusiastic patrons, have raised over a quarter of a million dollars for organisations assisting the homeless.
StreetSmart Australia has announced the Results, Awards and Community Grants of its 2008 ‘dine out to help out’ campaign. Despite economic uncertainty, both restaurateurs and diners showed overwhelming support for the cause, raising $260,000 in the six weeks before Christmas.
RESULTS: 238 restaurants across VIC, NSW, ACT and QLD participated in the campaign which was 53 more participants than in 2007. The amount raised last year is the largest figure to date with over $730,000 raised in total since the campaign’s first year in 2003.
GRANTS: StreetSmart will fund 63 grassroots projects that are delivering emergency aid as well as longer term programs helping to move people out of homelessness. 100% of funds raised through participating restaurants go to homeless organisations – with the majority of the grant recipients located in the same area as the participating restaurants. Uniquely, all administrative costs to run StreetSmart are covered through sponsorship and volunteer efforts.
StreetSmart CEO Adam Robinson, said
“Our community grants are crucial for the smaller charities we support. Our campaign gives local diners and restaurants the chance to contribute directly back to their local community. Most people appreciate the opportunity to help the smaller organisations that often struggle to attract funding and don't have the resources or budgets to fundraise themselves."
Many of the projects StreetSmart supports are transforming lives. Projects such as the Choir of Hard Knocks and the Big Issue Street Socceroos both received early funding from StreetSmart and this year a wide variety of programs have been supported.
AWARDS: StreetSmart has also awarded participants for their efforts naming winners for categories: National Fundraiser of the Year, Special Community Awards, Regional Fundraiser of the Year and a Fundraiser of the Year for each participating State. Il Centro in Brisbane took out the top Award with Longrain in NSW and Il Solito Posto in VIC the top fundraisers for their state.
For full details on the campaign please visit: www.streetsmartaustralia.org
