Telethon hands out $20 million to 41 WA charities
More than $20 million was handed out today to 41 WA charities by Perth’s biggest community fund-raiser, Channel Seven’s Telethon.
Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes; Prime Minister Tony Abbott and special guests were in attendance when $20,701,272 was handed out at the beneficiaries function at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre this afternoon.
There were many moved to tears by the bravery shown by some young Perth families.
However, there were plenty of smiles when The Director of Telethon Kids Institute, Jonathan Carapetis accepted the grants on behalf of all the beneficiaries who were also present.
Channel Seven Perth sports reporter, Basil Zempilas was MC at the event which also saw Seven Perth news presenters Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr chat to Sunday Night host Chris Bath and her husband Sydney sports reporter, Jim Wilson about coming to their first Telethon last year and the loss of Jim’s son Sam, who at the age of five passed away from an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Other guests present at the function were His Excellency Malcolm McCusker, Governor of Western Australia and his wife Tonya; Seven West Media CEO, Tim Worner; the Rt. Hon the Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi and last year’s Little Telethon Stars, Jack Day and Tahlia Polmear.
Earlier this afternoon, Prime Minister Tony Abbott; Hon Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Federal Member for Curtin and Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes toured The Telethon Kids Institute to see the extensive research which is responsible for many ground-breaking discoveries surrounding child health and were worthy recipients of $2million from federal funds last year.
TELETHON 2013 BENEFICIARIES:
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre
Ability solutions
The Amanda Young Foundation Ltd
Anglicare WA
Asthma WA
The Australian Children’s Music Foundation
Bio Rehab for Kids Inc
Burns Service of WA Paediatrics
Carers WA
The Centre for Cerebral Palsy
Constable Care
Cystic Fibrosis WA
Dreamfit Foundation
Foodbank WA
Friends of Autism
Kalparrin
Kids Camps
Life Education WA
Lions Eye Institute
Make-A-Wish Australia
Muscular Dystrophy Association of WA Inc
Parkerville Children and Youth Care
Perth Public Art Foundation Inc
Redkite
Riding for the Disabled
Save the Children
St John Ambulance Australia (Western Australia) Inc
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Superfins WA
Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre
Therapy Focus
Thriving Physical Activity and health Program
Torchbearers for Legacy in WA
WA Country Health Service
WA Disabled Sports Association Inc
Wheelchairs for Kids
Wheels for Hope
Women and Infants Research Foundation
Youth Focus Inc