Media Release
The Christmas giving spirit remains alive and well in Australia, with tens of thousands of dollars pouring in for community fundraising appeals over the recent Christmas period, the operator of Australia's leading online donations portal has revealed.
While millions of Australians were wading through mounds of torn gift wrap and tucking in to their turkey, many were also quietly giving to community causes, according to Our Community, which operates the Australian Giving Centre in partnership with Westpac.
Our Community co-founder and CEO Rhonda Galbally said donations of more than $44,000 were made via the free online giving service during the Christmas period*, with around 170 different community groups benefiting from the community's largesse.
"That's nearly double the Christmas 2006 figures, which just goes to show that people really are interested in giving as receiving at that time of the year," Dr Galbally said.
"This giving occurred at a time when most people are on holidays, most are feeling financially stretched, and very few are opening mail or being otherwise prompted to give."
Dr Galbally said this was good news for Australia's 700,000 community groups, which relied on the generosity of the public to keep them ticking throughout the year.
"Community groups are learning that if they want to remain relevant, they have to embrace new ways of operating, and they're doing that in greater and greater numbers," she said. "The beauty of online fundraising is that people can donate from their own home or office, 24 hours a day, seven days a week - even Christmas Day!"
The Australian Giving Centre operates as a fee-free service for donors and community group fundraisers, with Our Community absorbing the cost of providing the secure service with the support of Westpac. (Only compulsory credit card fees are deducted from donations.)
The Centre has collected more than $6.2 million for not-for-profit community groups and charities since it was launched in January 2001, with around 1100 separate causes listed on the website at www.ourcommunity.com.au/giving.
Donations using the Australian Giving Centre have increased rapidly over the past seven years, with the service collecting well over half a million dollars during 2007, and more than $140,000 during December alone.
Rhonda Galbally: (03) 9320 6809 | rhondag@ourcommunity.com.au | www.ourcommunity.com.au
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