The VCFS Foundation

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SPONSORS

The Foundation’s intention to acknowledge the generosity of its Fellows is a non-binding statement of intention. It creates no legal or other obligation on the Foundation. Fellowship of the Foundation is a gift to the Foundation for the purpose of enabling it to continue its charitable works. Provided gifts are made on this basis, they are fully tax deductible.

For more information of becoming a sponsor please contact us

The Queensland VCFS Foundation receives generous financial support from several sponsors. The Foundation simply could not have done its work, or made any of its achievements to date, without the support of these wonderful Australian companies.
See our current sponsors. Interested in information on Corporate Sponsorship? The Foundation offers three tiers of structured benefaction for sponsors to support its work.

The Foundation offers three tiers of structured benefaction for sponsors to
support its work.

1. Corporate Sponsor
2. Foundation Fellow
3. VCFS Centre Partner

CORPORATE SPONSORS

Corporate Sponsors of the VCFS Foundation of Queensland in 2008 have the benefit of knowing that their donation goes directly to fund our two major projects :

1. The VCFS Centre at the Mater Children’s Hospital ; and
2. The VCFS Foundation (Qld) Scholarship .

The one-off annual commitment of the Corporate Sponsors is $5,000. The Foundation acknowledges the generosity of Corporate Sponsors in several tangible ways:-

Company Name and Logo displayed on the Foundation website as a Corporate Sponsor.
Promotion at the Faces of Sunshine Ball on 18 October, 2008:-
Company Name and Logo on Invitations, Ball Menu Booklets and all other literature
In-room advertising - company banner displayed in ballroom
Data projected images of Corporate Sponsors logos will be displayed throughout the evening
Recognition in speeches.
A fully tax deductible receipt for $5,000.00 will be issued to Corporate Sponsors for their donation .

FOUNDATION FELLOWS

The Foundation offers a Fellowship to those sponsors wishing to make a longer term commitment to supporting its work. Foundation Fellows make a five year commitment of benefaction. They may make this gift in one of two ways.

Foundation Fellows will make five annual donations of the Corporate Sponsorship
sum . If, during this five year period, the Foundation adjusts the annual Corporate Sponsors’ commitment, Fellows who choose this option may, but need not, pay the increased sum.

Alternatively, Foundation Fellows may opt to make their gift in a lump sum. In 2008, this commitment is $25,000.00.

The Foundation will recognise its Fellows:-

On all Foundation letterhead, for the duration of the Fellowship
On the Foundation website, for the duration of the Fellowship
At each annual Faces of Sunshine Ball during the Fellowship, in the same way as Corporate Sponsors, and with appropriate prominence to reflect the commitment of Foundation Fellows
On an Honour Board at the VCFS Centre at the Mater.
On payment of the Foundation Fellowship sum, the VCFS Foundation will issue to the Fellow, a fully tax deductible receipt for $25,000.00 .

VCFS CENTRE PARTNER

In late 2005, the VCFS Foundation (Qld) Inc, in partnership with Kids in Mind, at the Mater Children’s Hospital at Brisbane established The Centre for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Research of Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, known as The VCFS Centre at the Mater.

This facility is jointly funded by the Foundation and the Mater Children’s Hospital. It operates from the rooms of the Child and Youth Mental Health Service at the Mater. Its function and survival is made possible by the Foundation, and its benefactors and supporters; as well as the generosity of the professional staff who work in the Centre.

Patient numbers are steadily growing, as are, therefore, the funding requirements.

The Foundation has to date met its obligations to The VCFS Centre at the Mater by its annual fundraising efforts. Ultimately, The VCFS Centre at the Mater will be a stand alone facility. The Foundation has begun planning for the establishment of this facility, and is currently liaising with the Mater and the State Government for a permanent home for the Centre at the new Queensland Children’s Hospital.

In the meantime, the Foundation is searching for a more stable and long term funding solution for this work.

VCFS Centre Partners make a commitment of benefaction. VCFS Centre Partners will meet the Foundation’s annual funding commitment to The VCFS Centre at the Mater for at least one financial year. They may make this gift in one of two ways.

VCFS Centre Partners may choose to pay a lump sum to the Foundation, on account of the budgeted cost of the Foundation’s obligations to The VCFS Centre at the Mater. The Foundation will hold that sum on trust, use it to pay its quarterly commitments, and pay any surplus into its general Gift Fund, for the following year’s expenses.

Alternatively, if more than one VCFS Centre Partner makes this commitment in any particular year, the cost will be shared equally by the partners over the relevant period. If there are two partners, they would cover the costs over a two year period, equally. Three partners, three years and so on.

All payments will be audited, at the cost of the Foundation.

The Foundation’s budget commitment for The VCFS Centre at the Mater for the 2008/2009 financial year is $100,000.00.

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

The Foundation’s four major projects in 2008 are:-

The VCFS Centre at the Mater Children’s Hospital - Australia’s only multi-disciplinary specialist centre for the diagnosis, treatment and research of VCFS. Foundation nominees sit on the Advisory Board of the Foundation. The Foundation has an annual funding commitment to the VCFS Centre of $100,000.00 for operational costs.
The VCFS Foundation (Qld) Fellowship - a post graduate study course, in which the Foundation sponsors the overseas travel and accommodation costs of a Queensland medical graduate wishing to specialise in a discipline which may be of benefit to VCFS patients. These are principally psychiatry and neuro-psychiatry, genetics, otolaryngology, immunology, speech and language and cardiac medicine. The aim is to assist young Queensland medical professionals to study overseas with the world’s foremost experts.
Education Department Recognition. At present, no Australian State Education Department and no private education body (secular or otherwise) recognises VCFS as a disability, or even as a genetic condition entitling sufferers to special assistance and facilities at school.

This is despite the fact that the Commonwealth Department of Social Services lists VCFS as a disability.

This means that VCFS kids at school and their parents have to battle the system for recognition; and then assistance. Each newly diagnosed family - over and over again.

The Foundation is endeavouring to have those departments and bodies recognise VCFS for what it is - a genetic condition with well documented features involving developmental delay, altered brain structure, reduced brain size, impaired cognitive functioning, learning disability and behavioural problems.
Medical Insurance Recognition. As with the education system, no Australian medical insurer - government or private - recognises VCFS as a medical condition or a genetic disability. VCFS patients face great difficulties in making their claims and in dealing with the insurance system.

The Foundation is endeavouring to have those government and non-government insurers recognise VCFS as a discrete medical condition for the purpose of paying benefits without question once a diagnosis is made. We also wish to eliminate the opportunity for any insurer to decline cover for any reason associated with VCFS.

International Rare Disease Day

28 February 2010

Family Day pool party

7 March 2010

12 to 4

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