GIVING IS GOOD
December 15, 2024
By Steve Liebmann OAM
On a recent Wednesday in Sydney, people gathered for lunch in one of the dining rooms at the New South Wales Parliament House.
They’d come from all over, with just one thing in common: between them, they’d donated millions of dollars to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.
This was an occasion for the Foundation to say thank you.
Their hosts were the NSW Health Minister, The Hon. Ryan Park MP, Humpty’s Patron, Johanna Griggs AM, Humpty's Founder, Paul Francis OAM, and CEO Claire Reaney.
The United Kingdom’s wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, once stated that "we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
And to that end, we know that giving is a powerful act that can very much bring fulfilment and connection to both sides.
By engaging in acts of giving, we’re not only contributing to the well-being of others, but it also enhances our sense of purpose and connection to those around us.
The simple act of giving also plays a crucial role in our community and can leave us feeling as if we’ve made a huge impact on someone’s life (or in this case, the lives of seriously ill kids).
The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is the largest charitable supplier of children’s medical equipment, second only to Australia’s state and territory governments. For over 30 years, the Foundation has provided lifesaving medical equipment for sick babies and children in around 500 hospitals and health services across the country, from populated cities to some of our most regional, rural and remote communities.
None of this, of course, would be possible without the support of private and corporate donors, which was recognised by Minister Park at the lunch.
Steve Liebmann with Patsy Allen and Paul Francis
He acknowledged the Humpty Wish List, which gives donors complete transparency. Every cent these people give goes to lifesaving medical equipment and they can see the results of their donation, meet with medical professionals and, sometimes, the families and children who have benefitted from their generosity and kindness.
Over 30 years, Humpty has raised more than 100 million dollars. Tens of thousands of lifesaving pieces of medical equipment has gone into paediatric wards, neonatal units and emergency departments in hospitals and health services across our country.
Not that you’d know this, talking to those who attended the lunch.
All they wanted to do was help kids and hospitals, and they certainly have.
And it’s not just individual donors who enable the Foundation to carry on its extraordinary lifesaving work; corporate donors play a critical role too.
For example, Humpty’s Corporate Partner, AVJennings, recently donated generous funds enabling Wyong Hospital on NSW’s Central Coast to bring in new lifesaving technology. This cutting-edge equipment will revolutionise care for patients who are suffering a life-threatening respiratory illness.
And while there’s a certain joy in receiving something, for people and companies who give to Humpty, be it for a breast pump or a reconditioned ambulance, find the feeling of satisfaction is immeasurable.