Tag Archive for 'fundraising'

Ride For Karuna

Published
by
josh
on September 29, 2008
in Community
. 0 Comments

Hello Karuna Supporters,

My name is Jennifer and I recently came to Karuna as a marketing officer. Some of my new responsibilities include organising volunteers for our events, helping with fundraising and liaising with the media.

You may have already heard that Karuna supporters can now raise money with Everyday Hero using the fundraising tool of their choice. Many of us are now joining the National Ride to Work Day on 15th October and asking friends and family to sponsor our participation as a way to raise money for Karuna.

And here’s why.

Experience the sense of freedom as you pass others driving to work or cooped up on public transport. Feel the sun beating down on your back while the wind rushes in your ears. Listen to the sounds of the park as you make your way to work. Fill your lungs with fresh air and arrive to work rejuvenated. Sound good? Riding your bike to work each day is wonderful news for your health, friendly to the environment, cheap, and it boosts your mind for the day. Not only this, but riding to work is a brilliant way to multi-task your commute to work with your daily 30 minutes of exercise!

You can get involved by dusting off your bike and registering yourself as a Karuna hero at Everyday Hero, which will set up an account on your behalf so your sponsors can add funds. You can then log on to Ride2Work and join in the fun, knowing that it is all going towards a great cause. Or, if you don’t feel up to it yourself, why not suggest this great activity to any bike enthusiasts you might know?

Nervous about getting back into it? There are some great words of advice on the site, or call me on (07) 3632 8300 with any questions. You can also email me with any questions here.

Happy Cycling!

Jennifer


How to be an Everyday Hero

Published
by
josh
on September 15, 2008
in Community
. 0 Comments

Have you ever wanted to be a part of Karuna’s fundraising team?

Do you want to become involved in Karuna’s work, but don’t have the time to volunteer?

Do you find it hard to give donations through our normal channels, but want to help us make a difference?

I may have an answer for you that can turn your everyday living into giving!

Karuna has recently signed up to Everyday Hero, an innovative website that allows people to raise money for their favourite charity or non-profit through a number of fun and exciting ideas.

You can become an Everyday Hero, set up your own fundraising page and run your own events to raise money for Karuna. This could be as small as a fun run at your local school or a Tux ‘n’ Tails, Diamonds ‘n’ Tiaras ball, complete with silent auctions and raffles.

Once you have set up the page, decided on an event and set a fundraising target, you can email all your friends and encourage them to sponsor you, buy tickets to attend the event or donate directly to Karuna.

If you’re not feeling energetic, you can support a friend, family member or colleague who is running a fundraising event for Karuna. That way you can donate without even breaking a sweat!

If shopping is more your thing, you can register as an Everyday Hero and shop for gifts, services and lots of other fun stuff from the shopping partners listed on the site. These partners have agreed to give a percentage of their profits to the Everyday Hero charities. The idea of registering first is so you can choose Karuna as your charity and ensure a percentage of the money you spend goes directly to Karuna.

So hop on the site and have a look. Once you’re hooked, let all your friends and family know about it. You can even raise money for Karuna by sending them a Hero e-card asking them to join!

It’s a fun, easy way to help us continue to care for the people of Brisbane.

Log on to www.everydayhero.com.au now or call Lisa on (07) 36328317 if you need more information, or some fundraising ideas!

Art Market Memories & Thanks

Published
by
josh
on August 12, 2008
in Community
. 0 Comments

It might have been the lure of another Pro Hart; it might have been the sunshine; it might have been the promise of hundreds of pieces of precious bling at rock bottom prices.

Whatever the combination, the Karuna Pre-Loved Art and Jewellery Market 2008 was an outstanding success. Appetites were whetted by snippets in the local newspapers and magazines, radio announcements and a wonderful piece on Brisbane Extra.

After months of watching the donations roll in and being in awe of the generosity of the community and local businesses, after weeks of logistics, building muscles and worrying we’d forgotten something, after scanning the horizon for dreaded storm clouds, the day finally dawned.

Actually, some of us were up before dawn, but it was with a bleary-eyed smile and the help of an eager band of staff and volunteers that we had the art hung and the bling shining by the time the gates opened at 8am.

The first line of shoppers got the best of the bargains as they walked through hundreds of original paintings, prints, frames and posters. Some headed straight for the jewellery, beads and watches where many a bargain was collected before morning tea.

The Rotary boys had sausages on the go before we knew it; raffle rickets were sold and silent auction bids were rising before our eyes. Right through until 1pm our vollies and staff toiled and smiled, laughing with the customers, negotiating sales and bagging a few of their own as they took well earned rest breaks.

I wish I could name each and every person and local business who helped us out, but I would need more than our small newsletter to fit you all in. Please know that we carry you in our hearts and minds every day. Karuna relies on you and your generosity and good will each and every year, and you never, ever let us down.

Thank you, and thank you to everyone who came along to help us celebrate the day. It raised much needed funds to help Karuna care for the people of Brisbane. And we had some great fun along the way!

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Cocktails a Huge Hit for Karuna

Published
by
karuna
on December 10, 2007
in Community
. 0 Comments

The view from the pool was our very own Manhattan!! Even the weather was perfect after looking like rain all afternoon, and even sprinkling prior to the 6.30 commencement.

“Cocktails at Gumerache” has been our most successful cocktail party so far.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Susan Davies and Christine Dittmer who have organised all the Karuna cocktail parties in the outdoor areas of beautiful Brisbane homes. Sadly, Susan and Christine are making this their last cocktail party and taking a well earned rest.

We most gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following:

  • Tricia and Darrell Butcher - venue
  • Pane e Vino (D’Arienzo family) - food catering and wait staff
  • Castlemaine Perkins - beverages
  • Marie-Louise Theile - compere for the evening
  • de pasquale - design
  • Platypus Graphics - printing
  • First response - security

Donors of the experiential auction prizes:

  • High-flying wine experience - a private helicopter flight to Maleny for a VIP wine experience at Maleny Manor incl. wine tasting, lunch and fine wines from Settlers Rise Winery
  • Four days in Paradise - a four-day luxury stay on Moreton Island in a private Cowan beach house with transfers by barge or ferry and a Black Pearl Epicure hamper for a gourmet beach picnic
  • “Luxury in the Rainforest” experience at Bloomfield Lodge for three nights for (2) incl air transfers from Cairns.
  • Gold Coast hinterland weekend of spa, health, gourmet food and wellbeing at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. With stunning ocean and valley views for (2) people
  • Celebrity Golf with a Pirelli “retyrement” experience. Golf game for (2) joining Pat Rafter and Alfie Langer at Indooroopilly Golf Club, followed by lunch and return of your newly-shod vehicle (with calendar) courtesy of Bob Jane T-Mart, Enoggera.

Raffle prize donors: Gambaro’s Seafood Restaurant, River Canteen restaurant, Darryl & Lewis hairdressing, Cosi Dolci, Baguette Restaurant.

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Karuna’s June 2007 Appeal Letter

Published
by
karuna
on October 1, 2007
in Downloads
. 1 Comment

Download the Karuna June 2007 Appeal in pdf format

Our story actually began a long time ago,but I will start on May 10th 2002, the day Philip and I moved into What If Farm.

We called it What If Farm after my propensity to start every sentence with ‘what if?’ What if we put up fences? We could have lots of animals.What if we built a barn? What if we went organic and grew our own vegetables? What if? What if? What if?

It became our mantra and What If Farm became the realisation of our dream. On September 21st 2002, Philip and I were married on the deck that he built (What if we built a deck? We could get married there).

This was a very happy time in our lives but two months later all that changed when Philip was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

Philip’s determination to ‘beat this thing’ was incredible.We applied our “What if?” mantra and we tried everything we could lay our hands on.

Throughout these first few years I heard of Karuna many times. Friends talked of the amazing support they had received from Karuna, our dear friend Maria, shared her strong association with Karuna with us. Karuna kept coming into our conversations and our consciousness.

Philip continued to work, we kept looking for answers, we kept hoping. Hope became the lifeline we sent out. But in December 2005 one of his tumors compressed his spinal cord. Paralysed from the chest down, Philip lay in the emergency ward of the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Emergency spinal surgery was scheduled. At 3.00 am the hospital staff suggested we say goodbye, his chances of surviving the operation was slim, the possibility that he would ever walk again was even slimmer. Philip survived and walked out of hospital 7 days later, but our world changed at that moment.

Joan Wilson Jones

Continue reading ‘Karuna’s June 2007 Appeal Letter’

Front Yard Music: The Karuna Concert

Published
by
karuna
on September 5, 2007
in Events
. 2 Comments

Download the Karuna Concert pdf flyer

Free Event

QPAC springs out of doors with its first Front Yard Music Concert. From September to November, Brisbane audiences are invited to free outdoor music on QPAC’s Melbourne Street Grass Plaza. Relax in a laid back environment where food, drink and amenities are within easy reach. Bring a blanket, bring the kids and experience aural bliss in Brisbane’s renowned spring weather.

The Goodbye Notes specialise in acoustic pop and ballads, sung by the amazing Barbara Fordham. They perform a collection of stories told through well-crafted pop tunes with a gentle edge.

Yani is a veteran of the local music scene and one of the original Women in Voice artists. Her repertoire includes jazz, blues, pop, funk and world music styles.

Linda Neil strums the violin like a guitar and sings her own heartfelt and sometime whimsical compositions. This rare Brisbane appearance is supported by versatile West End keyboard and cabaret anchor man Gary Nunn.

Bloke’Apella are a men’s a cappella quartet, whose style draws on pop, gospel, Anglo-Celtic tradition and some foreigh language songs. Perhaps their most distinctive feature is comic pieces, with the emphasis on parody.

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