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Smith Family launches appeal to raise $4 million
DIY Rescue's Leah McLeod lends a hand to The Smith Family as it attempts to raise $4 million from its annual Christmas Appeal to support disadvantaged kids and their families.
Starting Saturday, November 29, Leah will encourage viewers, during breaks in Channel Nine's family movie, to call a "hot line" and donate money to The Smith Family's Appeal. Calls can be made to 1800 99 66 77 over a three- week period.
The theme of this year's appeal is this Christmas, don't just give a child a present. Give them a future.
The Smith Family's Andrew Young said the money would go towards supporting disadvantaged families at Christmas and beyond, ensuring kids get an education.
The Smith Family was founded on Christmas Eve 81 years ago, when five men decided to deliver toys to children at a local orphanage. The organisation has been helping families ever since. The Smith Family now assists disadvantaged children before poverty takes hold through its Learning for Life education support program.
In keeping with its tradition of delivering toys to kids at Christmas, this year The Smith Family will distribute almost 20,000 hampers and 30,000 toy parcels to disadvantaged families throughout Australia.
"There are more than 740,000 children living in hardship," said Young.
"These kids are not only at risk of missing out on Christmas but also the opportunities most of us take for granted — like a good education," he said.
"There is no greater gift than the promise of a secure future. The Smith Family's Learning for Life program now supports 22,000 needy students in almost 50 communities across Australia but many more children and young people are waiting to come on to the program."
"That's why this Christmas we're asking people to give a present that will open up the future for these kids by ensuring they have the opportunity to stay at school and reach their full potential," said Young.
The Smith Family's Christmas Appeal is the most important fundraising time of the year. Money raised at Christmas helps the organisation to help others not just at Christmas but throughout the year via programs that give disadvantaged people skills in literacy, computers and the Internet, and English.
The organisation also supports families in extreme hardship by giving them cash and material assistance such as clothes and blankets to prevent them falling further into crisis.
The Smith Family telethon will be aired on Channel Nine, Saturday, November 29, Sunday, December 7 and Sunday, December 14. Lines will be open during the family movie. Donations can be made by calling 1800 99 66 77 or visiting www.smithfamily.com.au | | |
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