201201ANNUAL REPORT66 Sometimes all we need is someone to help show us the way. -Jessica Brown (Founder & CEO) CHAIR MESSAGE Life Changing Experiences Foundation celebrated its thirteenth in the “Young Australian of the Year” category and our CEO year in 2016. Since the start of the SISTER2sister program, we and Founder Jessica Brown was awarded with the “Positive have helped over 416 young vulnerable women change their lives, ProgressionContents of Women Award” in the Financial Executive Women and I’m delighted to highlight and share our amazing achievements Awards. I’d like to acknowledge and thank our dedicated team at and progress over the past year. LCEF – Jessica, Marnee, Linda, Sharon and everyone else. The difference you make is phenomenal. Inspired by a very successful pilot program in Melbourne in 2009 and the ever growing demand and need for our services throughout More broadly, our wonderful ambassador Natalie Bassingthwaighte Australia, this year saw the SISTER2sister program expand from chose us as her charity for the Twinings teabag design competition Sydney NSW to Melbourne Victoria thanks to the financial support where 32 prominent Australian women competed in designing of Wyndham City Council’s Community Strengthening program and their next teabag box. We are very proud of Natalie who made the Jetstar’s Flying Start program. This move brings renewed focus on top 10 with her design alongside the likes of Nicole Kidman and establishing and growing a sound support network on the ground Carrie Bickmore. We are also very grateful for the longstanding in Melbourne. We have established a Melbourne Board Sub- and ongoing in-kind support of Kris Gale, Michael Johnson and TABLE OF CONTENTS Committee which will support future Melbourne activities and most Associates and the players at West Tigers for raising our profile in importantly focus on fundraising to keep the program rolling and the community at West Tigers games. prospering in Melbourne. This year marks the second year of our partnership with not for On the fundraising front, this year we launched our pilot profit organisation UN Limited, a company who link partnerships 3 CHAIR MESSAGE fundraising campaign “30 days for 30 girls in September” where between Not For Profits and the advertising industry to support our supporters were sponsored to go without something for thirty their needs and help raise their profile. From this wonderful 4 OUR YEAR days. This simple, yet highly effective concept proved to have the relationship evolved a pro bono partnership with the well-known potential for growth in a very crowded space in the sector so we GRANTS online company Mamamia called Mama4sister, where we are now 6 are very excited to be planning for its growth and expansion of able to draw upon the valuable skillsets of Mamamia employees. reach in 2017. 8 WHO WE HELP 2017 promises to be an outstanding year for the Foundation. In Brought back by popular demand, our Life Changing Trivia Night addition to continuing to strengthen our Melbourne presence, we 9 OUR PURPOSE was a huge success in both Sydney and Melbourne with Sydney’s are exploring a number of options to ensure we can maximise the event reaching a record breaking target of $36,000. Growing in number of girls we’re able to support and help. In addition, thanks 11 OUR PROGRAMS an uncertain financial environment is an ongoing challenge for to the financial support of the Perpetual Foundation, 2017 will see charities like us who are not supported by government funding, the delivery of a long term impact measurement study, using data THE SISTER2SISTER PROGRAM 12 therefore we are eternally grateful for our supports, donors and we’ve collected across our thirteen year’s operation, to confirm the benefactors, all of whom are recognised in this annual report. long term positive impact we know the SISTER2sister program has I hope to be on the OUR STRUCTURE 14 had on the girls we support. Of particular note is NIVEA, our long term major financial partner. path to a bright future. 15 WHO THE SISTER2SISTER NIVEA’s ongoing support has had a direct and profound impact on I would like to acknowledge the wonderful support of our directors PROGRAM HELPS the lives of the girls we support, and we are proud to be associated for their gift of time, energy and expertise. I’m particularly pleased with such as strong and compassionate brand. Impressively, to welcome two new Board members to LCEF – Danika Johnston HOW THE SISTER2SISTER NIVEA’s commitment to our Foundation doesn’t stop at providing and Rachel Savio, who replace outgoing directors Amanda Wilson I hope to be 16 PROGRAM HELPS corporate sponsorship; we’re constantly amazed at the generosity and Andrea Taylor. I send my heartfelt thanks to our Directors new of NIVEA’s employees, who take it upon themselves to raise money and old. Many thanks also go to JBwere who facilitated our recent comfortable in my own 18 EValuation Results for the Foundation through staff morning teas and other events. Board strategy day, where we were able to refresh our business We’ve even had a steady supply of Big Sisters from NIVEA. This is and fundraising strategy for the coming years. THE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES skin and figure out truly a company that “walks the talk” when it comes to corporate 21 FOUNDATION STORY Most importantly of all, and on behalf of all of the Directors of Life giving, and it’s an honour to work with such an amazing team. Changing Experiences Foundation, I’d like to acknowledge and who I am and who I 22 THE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES This year marks the second year Benefit Australia Cosmetics thank our wonderful volunteers and pro bono supporters for the JOURNEY highlighted our charity for their “Bold is Beautiful” campaign and thousands of hours you give each year. With only two full time staff, want to be. 24 we are very grateful for the support. Many thanks to our other we could not achieve what we do in the community without you. OUR TEAM corporate supporters, mention including the St George Bank Foundation, the Australia Post Neighbourhood Fund, the Big Sister I hope to be happy 26 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Foundation, the Collier Foundation, the Perpetual Foundation, Regards, the Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund and the Matana and at peace with 28 PATRONS & AMBASSADORS Foundation for Young People. 30 HOW YOU CAN HELP Life Changing Experiences Foundation has won many accolades myself and others. and awards over the past thirteen years so it is wonderful to be Kate Webber SUPPORTERS able to shine the light on our dedicated staff and team. This year 32 Marnee May, our quiet achiever and National Program Manager Chair WHERE OUR MONEY was nominated for the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards Life Changing Experiences Foundation Ltd Rhianna - Little Sister 36 COMES FROM & WHERE IT GOES 38 FINANCIALS PAGE 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2016 33 TIGERS PARTNERSHIP This year we were very lucky to be represented once again by West Tigers player James Tadesco, who Our year prompts our SISTER2sister logo to appear on the big screen whenever he scores a try! Great exposure for us and many thanks to Kris Gale from Michael Johnston Associates who initiated and continues to support this wonderful relationship. NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE ENTERS TWININGS DESIGN COMPETITION Our wonderful ambassador Natalie Bassingthwaighte named us as her chosen charity for the Twinings teabag design competition where 32 prominent Australian women competed in designing the next Twinings teabag box. We are very proud of Natalie who made the top 10 with her design alongside the likes of Nicole Kidman and Carrie Bickmore. Go Nat! 30 DAYS FOR 30 GIRLS CAMPAIGN This year launched the very successful pilot fundraising campaign “30 days for 30 girls in September”. MARNEE NOMINATED FOR Supporters and staff were the first to get on board and were YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR sponsored to go without an item/luxury for thirty days such We love shining the light on our awesome team. as coffee, retail shopping, take away and chocolate. The BOLD IS BEAUTIFUL PROJECT To add to her many accolades such as a NSW Pride message behind the campaign is to remind ourselves of the For the second year running we were honoured to be of Australia Award, our very humble National Program UNLIMITED HELPED MAMAMIA PARTNERSHIP girls in the SISTER2sister program who often go without chosen as one of three Australian female charities Manager Marnee May was nominated for the Australian Thanks to our probono supporters UNLimited, we basic needs such as healthy food, safety, love and the for Benefit Cosmetics Australia’s “Bold is Beautiful” of the Year Awards in the Young Australian of the Year landed a great partnership with advertising company necessary support they need to thrive. We are excited to campaign. In the month of May Benefit donated $10 category. Go Marnee! Mamamia. In just a matter of week Mama4Sister was see this campaign grow in 2017. from every brow wax to the three charities which totalled launched and the team at Mamamia were behind us. So $200,000. We are very excited to be charity partner again far their support has included, skilled volunteering, free air in 2017. time/podcasts, stories featuring our Big and Little Sisters, ongoing in house fundraising and even providing gift bags for our SISTER2sister girls at their graduation. TRIVIA NIGHT JESSICA WINS A IMPACT MEASUREMENT STUDY Due to popular demand we brought back our annual FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE WOMEn‘s AwARD Thanks to the financial support of the Perpetual fundraising trivia night which was an instant sell At the 2016 annual Financial Executive Women conference Foundation, we are now able to fund a long term impact MELBOURNE EXPANSION out attended by 250 guests.