Give 52’s Anton Gaudry Partners With CBM’s Miracles Day
Stories | July 27, 2020
It’s not every day you can change somebody’s life with just $33 – but CBM’s annual Miracles Day is a chance to make a genuine difference for about the same cost as a take-away dinner.
Each year, Miracles Day raises funds to perform sight-saving surgeries for people living with cataracts in some of the world’s poorest countries. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness around the world, most significantly felt by people living in poverty who cannot afford or access effective eye care or treatment.
Making a tangible difference to the lives of people in need is the reason why philanthropist Anton Gaudry and his wife Jenny have chosen to donate $10,000 to CBM Australia. Their generous gift will support Miracles Day, Thursday August 6, and support the organisation’s target to raise enough money to perform 35,000 cataracts surgeries.
“Miracles Day is a wonderful example of how everyone can make a difference,” says Anton.
“By donating just $33, you are restoring someone’s sight. How amazing is that? But equally important, you are providing that person the opportunity for employment, social inclusion and so much more. So making an impact from giving is within everyone’s reach.”
The Gaudry’s donation was gifted to CBM Australia as part of their Give52 initiative, in which they are donating $10,000 to a different charity each week throughout 2020. By the end of the year, they will have given away more than half a million dollars to worthy causes spanning health, community services and mental health among other areas.
“We have met so many inspiring and passionate people. Our message is that if you are passionate about a cause, and get involved, you will get a great insight and hopefully a connection,” says Anton.
The impact of COVID-19 has been felt across all parts of our lives, and Anton says, charitable organisations have also been disrupted.
“Fundraising is so fundamental to a charity’s existence and its ability to deliver services, and charities like everyone else have had to pivot and be innovative,” he says.
“But it is particularly pleasing that in philanthropic circles, most donors have maintained if not increased their grants during the past few months.”
“The response of Australians to the January bushfires was amazing and this generosity has continued during COVID-19. The next six months will continue to bring challenges, but hopefully with normality slowly returning, our charities, like CBM, can return to some certainty.”
Jane Edge, CBM’s CEO, thanked Anton and Jenny for their generous donation.
“It is so important that Australians continue to support the poorest of the poor – people with disabilities living in poverty,” she said. “Miracles is one way all Australians can do this.”
“We have had children, with their parents’ permission, giving up their pocket money; a truckie pulling over to call our Melbourne contact centre to donate due to the emotional connection he had to the work; and a farmer calling in very late after a day in the paddock listening to the radiothon.”
Miracles really is a good example of how small donations can help transform someone’s life.
“This is exactly what Anton and Jenny are encouraging Australian children to do; to start to give early to understand the difference you can make.”
“We are also blessed by the generous support of donors who do provide even bigger gifts; people like Anton and Jenny.”
For more information about Miracles Day, visit miraclesday.com.au or call 131 226.
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/give-52s-anton-gaudry-partners-with-cbms-miracles-day
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