Through the creation of a lottery called Play For Purpose, the 50-50 Foundation has forged a new and engaging way to give back to the community. This is an ANC registered charity which has transformed the Australian fundraising landscape by allowing participants to select which charity their contribution is donated to. Participants purchase a $25 ticket, of which $15 will go directly to the organisation of their choice. Upon entering the lottery, participants will also go into the draw to win a share of 1 million dollars, which is a win for both the charity and a win for anyone who buys a ticket.
John Corry and Ross Hayward are the innovative men who made this concept a reality in Australia. Corry first came across this idea when holidaying in Canada. Inspired by a Canadian charity’s success, as well as its positive community impact, Corry and Hayward started the 50-50 Foundation. After working through some regulatory issues, the first lottery was implemented at a rugby league game at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Supportive charities such as the Broncos Charity Fund, Cystic Fibrosis Queensland, Bravehearts, and Heartkids were among the main beneficiaries, receiving half of the $12,000 that was raised. Now more than 20 teams across Australia run 50-50. Collectively, Corry and Hayward’s charity has donated over 1 million dollars to a variety of Australian charities.
In Australia, charity tickets are often sold by intermediaries who take high commissions on each sale. In some instances, only $0.24 of every dollar raised actually makes it back to the charity. Through Play-For-Purpose, charities will receive 60% of all sales, with the organisations themselves facing absolutely no risk or excess cost. Due to this, charities are now lining up to be a part of this movement. Some of the lucky charities benefiting from this lottery include the AEIOU Foundation, who supports families of autistic children; RSPCA QLD, who lead animal welfare; and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, who provide fun and life-saving research on the condition.
The 50-50 Foundation is always looking for more opportunities to generate financial support for organisations that represent a good cause. Corporate social responsibility should be a big part of every business. Such a distinction may set a company apart from the rest when consumers become more socially conscious. Businesses who are more philanthropic and use their expertise to help the community demonstrate a social awareness to both consumer and the media. This reputation for charitableness, in turn, may lead to greater long-term profits for businesses, with no direct negative impact on current profits.
If you would like to get involved with this wonderful charity, you can find out more here: http://5050charityraffle.com.au/about
