Gotta love the Aussies..

[Stan]

Alumni and friends donate $100,000 for mission from wages

Sophie Gamble

Public relations editorial intern

Avondale College of Higher Education

Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

Alumni and friends of Avondale have raised $100,000 for mission by donating a small percentage of their wages over the past two years.

Power of one: Librarian Lynette Frazer and other Avondale alumni and friends have donated $100,000 to mission from their wages over the past two years. Credit: Brenton Stacey.

The 1% Club helps build schools, change lives, feed orphans and pay teachers, says founder Jason Hinze, a lecturer and secondary education course convenor in the college of higher education’s School of Education.

It began in response to Ministry of Teaching Overseas, where students complete a three-week teaching experience in a developing country. Those from the School of Education who teach in Cambodia, India and Nepal—56 visited the countries this year—wanted to leave a longer-term legacy. “The financial need to help these schools continue operating is massive,” says Jason.

Members of the 1% Club, most of who are Avondale staff members, donate at least one per cent of their wage each pay. At the end of the financial year, they receive a dinner invitation from Jason, who presents to them several projects needing support. Each member then decides where their money will go and how it will be used.

The beneficiaries this year include: AoZora Adventist Academy in Bodh Gaya, India ($13,000); the Wat Preah Yesu orphanage and school in Siem Reap, Cambodia ($11,000); Jombok Hoas, an adventure learning centre operated by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Cambodia (almost $4500); and Avondale student mission club One Mission ($3000).

Senior lecturer in special education Dr Marion Shields has been a member of the club since its beginning. “We [in Australia] sometimes think we’re hard done by, but we’re wealthy in comparison [to most of those living in developing countries],” she says. “If we all do a little bit, we can make such a difference.”

Contact Jason (jason.hinze@avondale.edu.au), and if you are an Avondale College of Higher Education staff member, payroll officer Helene Low (helene.low@avondale.edu.au), to join the club. Donations are tax deductible and all go to the project of your choice at the end of each financial year.

[Stan]

Source

http://wp.avondale.edu.au/news/2011/11/17/1-club/