Community

We believe we have an obligation to give back to the community and to that end, Russell and Company is committed to making a real contribution to the community in a direct and positive way. Through various fundraising activities undertaken throughout the year, we are able to contribute to the following charities with real and substantial donations to assist them in their various programmes:

The VCFS Foundation of Queensland

Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome (VCFS) is a genetic condition, caused by a missing piece of genetic information on the long arm of chromosome 22. This is specifically referred to as a deletion on chromosome 22q11 (‘q’ being the long arm). It is currently estimated that around one in 3000-4000 births are affected and this rate is constantly being reviewed.

VCFS is the most common cause of congenital heart defects after Downs Syndrome.

VCFS is characterised by cleft palate, heart abnormalities, learning disabilities, and over 180 other clinical findings. The deleted site of the 22nd chromosome is gene rich and this is why the syndrome causes so many problems. The extent to which a person is affected is extremely variable and almost impossible to predict. With so many abnormalities caused by the deletion, each individual could be affected by many (but, thankfully, not all) of the problems.

The VCFS Foundation of Queensland is dedicated to helping the cause of people with VCFS in every way.

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)

SLSA is Australia’s major water safety and rescue authority and is one of the largest volunteer organisations in the country. Its mission is "to provide a safe beach and aquatic environment throughout Australia”.

SLSA and its state centres provide patrol services on around 400 of the 11,011 beaches around Australia’s 36,735 km of coastline. In addition to this core service and responsibility, SLSA also contributes to the community by:-

training volunteer surf lifesavers and lifeguards to undertake rescues, administer first aid and take preventative actions to keep our beaches safe;
developing and implementing community and school education programs, including to regional and rural communities;
providing helicopter, jet and offshore rescue boat services;
collecting and maintaining a database of geographical conditions, wave action and hazard ratings on all beaches in Australia;
developing an understanding of beach safety by maintaining a database of all coastal drownings, major incidents and first aid treatments attended by SLSA lifesavers or lifeguards;
managing and delivering surf sports events, including the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

SLSA is a volunteer organisation and its services are provided by surf lifesavers who complete surf patrols in their own time - usually a half-day patrol every two to three weeks. Its total membership of more than 112,000 is spread across 305 affiliated surf lifesaving clubs in every Australian state and the Northern Territory. Of these, around 37,000 actively patrol our beaches. SLSA is a charity and relies on the generous support of the public.

Youth Enterprise Trust (YET)

YET is an independent charitable organisation established in 1990 by Queensland businessman Lloyd Hancock. The Trust assists disadvantaged young people (aged 16 - 24 years) through a personally challenging and intense programme that begins in the wilderness of the Carnarvon Ranges in Central Qld, then moves to semi-rural South East Qld for practical follow-up. The programme is completed when, using personal and vocational goals which are developed during this intense two week experience, Graduates receive 12 months of encouragement and support by telephone from an ‘off-sider’. The Trust has a strong and growing family of individual, organisational and corporate supporters and sustains a uniquely Australian programme which moves disadvantaged and other young Australians from adolescence to healthy and self-reliant young adults.

Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland

Formed in Queensland in 1975, the Leukaemia Foundation is the only not-for-profit organisation in Australia dedicated to supporting patients and their families with leukaemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, aplastic anaemia, amyloidosis and related blood disorders.

In addition, the Foundation invests close to $1 million a year to fund cutting edge medical research which will ultimately find better treatments and cures for these debilitating diseases.

The Foundation cares for patients and families by providing a range of vital support services, free-of-charge, including counselling, accommodation, transportation and practical assistance for patients and their families.

The Foundation currently operates four patient accommodation and support centres which provide a home-away-from-home for patients and their families who need to move to Brisbane or Townsville for medical treatment.

The Leukaemia Foundation receives no direct ongoing government funding and relies on the generosity of individuals, community groups, trusts, foundations and businesses to continue its work and expand its services.