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SMILE Patron and special guest speaker, Professor Ian Frazer with SMILE's Chair, Lyndall Beville.
SMILE Ambassador and MC for the evening, Joh Bailey with Lady Sonia McMahon.
l to r: SMILE Ambassador Joh Bailey, Tara Moss, SMILE Chair Lyndall Beville, SMILE Family Relief Program Advisor Cheri Ochnio, Alex Perry, Lisa Forrest.
SMILE is proud to have Olympian Lisa Forrest (right) as an Ambassador. She is pictured here with members of SMILE's Board of Directors (l to r): Malcolm Beville, Gillian Schwarz and Jonny Taitz.
Fashion designer Alex Perry and author Tara Moss
at the launch.
SMILE's Giving Circle soiree was held at the home of Benita and Gary Kam. Pictured l-r: Benita Kam, Carol O'Hare, Sarah Murdoch, SMILE Chair, Lyndall Beville.
Sarah Murdoch pictured with the SMILE Foundation's Development Manager, Evie Smith (left) and SMILE Ambassador, Belinda Barbagallo.
SMILE Board members Jonny Taitz (left) with his wife Laura, and Gilllian Schwarz with her husband Gordon. Jonny gave an inspirational presentation on the importance of supporting families struggling with illness.
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News
January 2009
You’ll be buying wine over the Summer break right?
Why not buy it online from the Charity Wine Shop and you’ll also be helping the SMILE Foundation. The Charity Wine Shop provides great quality wine, direct from the winery, delivered FREE, straight to your door. Best of all, $20 from every case sold (yes $20 from every case) goes to the SMILE (Supporting Medical Innovation for Life Enhancement) Foundation to help in our work supporting families affected by rare childhood diseases.
Many children will be spending this Christmas in hospital or having medical treatment. Their families will spend their Christmas worrying about paying bills, travelling to hospital and suffering the uncertainty of having a sick child. SMILE offers grants to these families to ease some of the financial burden, and funds research into rare conditions in the hope of finding a cure.
So simply visit www.smile.wineservice.com.au and follow the links to purchase your wine and support a great cause at the same time.
November 2008
The SMILE Foundation held its end of year soiree on 12 November at a private home in Vaucluse. The event was attended by over 100 guests who heard former Australia of the Year and SMILE Patron, Professor Ian Frazer speak passionately about the importance of medical research into rare diseases. Professor Frazer is the man who discovered the cervical cancer vaccine which will save the lives of millions of women.
SMILE held a raffle on the night to win tickets to the red carpet premiere of Baz Lurhmann's Australia which was won by Jane Ferguson. Overwhelmed by the response to the raffle, SMILE Ambassador Joh Bailey offered a makeover at his salon as an additional prize, and SMILE’s photographer Justine Perl kindly offered a portrait session as well.
Throughout the evening, guests were entertained by magician Bruce Glen, of Bespoke Magic who created a touching performance celebrating medical research.
The evening raised over $10,000 which will go towards helping families affected by rare disease.
August 2008
Celebrity Breakfast at Lollipops Playland to launch
Family Relief Program.
The SMILE Foundation recently launched its important new initiative, the Family Relief Program. Dozens of families, celebrities and kids attended the launch held at Lollipops Playland EQ for a fantastic breakfast, fun activities and great entertainment.
SMILE Ambassador Joh Bailey was our fabulous MC for the formalities of the morning and provided a very entertaining introduction to the program. SMILE’s Chair, Lyndall Beville presented a cheque for $100,000 to Cheri Ochnio, SMILE’s Family Relief Program Advisor who accepted on behalf of the one hundred families Australia-wide who will benefit from this program.
Celebrities Tara Moss and Lisa Forrest were special guests at the launch, as was fashion designer Alex Perry and his family.
This great day would not have been possible without our fantastic supporters:
Joh Bailey
Justine Perl photography
Plaster Master
Kids' plaster painting and art
333 Old South Head Rd
(02) 9130 4855
May 2008
SMILE Launches its Giving Circle at Stylish Soiree
The SMILE Foundation launched its latest innovation in philanthropy, the SMILE Giving Circle at a recent soiree attended by guests including passionate advocate for child health, Sarah Murdoch.
SMILE’s Chair, Lyndall Beville described the SMILE Giving Circle as, “an important new concept in philanthropy which encourages powerful and collaborative giving. Philanthropists pool their funds and jointly decide which projects should be funded. Donors learn about rare childhood diseases and are pivotal at every stage of the giving process.”
Lyndall announced the first Giving Circle member - Global Ambassador for SMILE, Elle Macpherson.
In addition to hearing about the Giving Circle, guests on the night were treated to a moving and informative program of speakers, including guest of honour, Sarah Murdoch.
Sarah is Ambassador for the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and is committed to the cause of medical research. She highlighted the vital role philanthropy has to play in funding medical innovation. She thanked SMILE for the research grant it has given to Professor David Thorburn at MCRI for his work on Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disorders.
Guests also heard from SMILE Ambassador Belinda Barbagallo who shared the very special story of her nephew Johnnie, who suffered from a rare lung disease. When he was born, Johnnie was given only weeks to live, but due to his family’s persistence and determination, the government funded Johnnie’s trip to the USA for lifesaving surgery, giving him 10 wonderful years with his family before he sadly passed away last year.
Dr Jonny Taitz, Paediatrician at Sydney Children’s Hospital, SMILE Board member and inspiration to many closed the evening with the story of one family dealing with rare childhood disease. His story brought many in the audience to tears, but also offered hope that SMILE is playing a vital role in easing the burden on these families.
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