Together we make a difference
ABOUT US
The first stone was cast in 2011, when a formal charity organisation was established on behalf of employees within the company. Since then, we have assisted many charities, both locally and abroad, by providing relief and support to people in genuine need of help.
Turosi Giving is a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC) as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI).
The purpose of the charity is to relieve the burden resulting from sickness, poverty, disability and other misfortune, with a particular focus on children.
"Alone, I cannot change the world but
I can cast a stone across the waters to
create many ripples.”Mother Teresa
Our vision is an organisation where ‘giving’ is firmly embedded into its culture.
Our mission is to present opportunities to our employees through which they can actively
contribute towards improving the lives of children. We will inspire our members to take part
in programs which will not only benefit others but enrich their own lives in the process.
OUR FOCUS
When working with families, we focus on finding practical ways to ease their burden and to provide some relief from their circumstances.
We aim to build solid relationships and in doing so, develop a mutual trust and become change-makers within less fortunate communities.
We believe that by working together towards specific goals and projects, we can truly make a difference in the lives of those who need our help the most.
OUR PROGRAMS
fundraising
01
Fundraising
Fundraising is the major source of income for Turosi Giving and
can be broken up into two groups:
1. Major Fundraising Events –
The organisation plans to carry out a range of signature events
each year. These events are designed to engage key stakeholders
associated with the company such as sponsors, employees,
business partners, and local community groups.
Gala Ball:
First held in 2011, the Gala Ball has become a highly anticipated
event on Turosi’s social calendar. Usually held in October of every
alternate year, this black tie event is attended by circa 550 people.
Each year’s theme ties in with the event’s designated
charity partner.
Due to the overwhelming support of our business partners and
event sponsors, the proceeds from this event are donated at the
end of the evening in their entirety. The major charity partner
will receive the majority of funds, with smaller donations made
to complementary causes and our local hospitals.
Golf Day:
Another of our signature events is the Charity Golf Day.
This popular event has been held each year since 2011.
The purpose of this event is to promote and create awareness of the
Clown Doctors’ work which focuses on ‘treating’ children with
doses of humour. Studies show that this type of therapy has been
extremely effective in easing the pain and anxiety of children
in hospital.
A solid relationship has been built with the Clown Doctors over
the years and they continue to be our chosen charity for this event.
2. Employee Driven Fundraising –
Various activities are proposed and run by employees during the normal course of business. Turosi employees proactively run fundraising activities at their workplace or across the whole business. Some examples are: sausage sizzles, chocolate drives, raffles, dress up days, causal clothes Fridays etc. These events create a buzz around the business as well as providing yet another avenue for employees to participate in giving.
CLOSE X
workplace giving
02
Workplace Giving
The Turosi Workplace Giving Program aims to encourage
employees to ‘give’ a nominated amount from their salary
each pay cycle.
Employees can choose to donate directly to Turosi Giving or
to a specific charity of their choice.
The Company provides an extra incentive by matching the
contributions to Turosi Giving, dollar for dollar.
Details about the Company’s philanthropic arm are included
in the new employee induction package, with an opportunity
to join the program offered at this point.
For existing employees, literature about the program is published
through newsletters, internal memorandums and on all
site noticeboards.
Workplace Giving is an example of how a small contribution
made by many people can have a significant impact.
Whilst our participation rate is in line with those of similar
workplaces, our aim is to encourage further participation by
providing regular updates and incentives.
volunteering
03
Volunteering
The Company acknowledges that not everybody is in a position to
provide a financial contribution. For others, giving their time is
a preferred option.
Giving of one’s time is just as valuable as any other contribution.
Turosi encourages employees to participate in the Volunteering
Program by offering two days paid leave per year to be used for
the purpose of volunteering with a not-for-profit organisation
of their choice.
To encourage employee participation, short term volunteer positions
are sourced from within our existing networks of approved charities.
These organisations notify us of any special events requiring
volunteers. The co-ordinator then seeks to fill the vacancies from
within our workforce.
Some organisations such as our local hospitals have a roster of
weekly volunteers from the company.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors meet twice yearly to ensure the Committee has operated effectively to represent the members of the institution and discharged its roles and responsibilities in the most appropriate manner, as well as to carry out its own governance duties.
The Turosi Giving Committee is responsible for managing the day to day operations of the charity organisation.
The Turosi Giving Committee will meet quarterly. Their roles and responsibilities include:
- to organise and oversee all charity events and fundraising
- to represent the views and provide feedback from their colleagues within the business
- to review submissions and requests for donations, providing feedback and approval where appropriate
- to approve proposed fundraising activities
- to approve grants, in consultation with the company’s CEO
- to work ‘hands on’ in fundraising events and the volunteer program
- to lead by example
CHARITY PARTNERS
TUROSI GIVING HAS SUPPORTED MANY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES INCLUDING:
Amaze
Amor Key Project
Anti Cancer Council
Asthma Foundation
Aust Vietnam Friends
Australian Childhood Foundation
Australian Leukodystrophy
Support
Autism Spectrum
Barwon Health
Berry Street
Bethany
Beyond Blue
Brainwave
Breast Cancer Foundation
BUPA Around the Bay
Caitlin’s Retreat
Cancer Foundation
Childfund
Childwise
Clown Doctors
Coeliac Vic & Tas
Cottage By the Sea
CPEC
Crohn’s & Colitis
Diamond Valley Project
Disability Sports
Duchenne Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation Victoria
Friends of Sammy
Jo Foundation
Good Friday Appeal RCH
Guide Dogs
Headspace Collingwood
ICAN network
Insight Education
Kids Plus Foundation
Kids International Ministries
Kids Under Cover
Kids with Cancer
Lifeline
Mission Engage Youth Programs
Mo Team
My Room
Northern Health Foundation
Northern Hospital
Open Doors Youth Service
Orygen Youth Health
People Animal Nature (PAN)
Project Booyah
Reach Foundation
Red Dust
Redkite
Riding for the Disabled
River Nile Support & Relief Group
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Royal Children Hospital
Sabre Cause
Scope (Vic) Pty Ltd
Shalom Cathedral School India
Shine
SIDS Foundation
Smith Family
Still Aware
Suicide Prevention Australia
The Mirabel Foundation
Tyler Fishlock Foundation
Unicef
Variety Children Charity
Very Special Kids
Wayfaring Foundation
Whitelion
project overseas
Project Overseas
A desire to extend our reach overseas saw an expansion of
our charity work into Cambodia.
In 2017, a team was sent to explore opportunities where we
could make a difference and leave our own unique footprint.
Projects were identified and relationships with local leaders
were established.
Turosi prides itself on being a diverse and multicultural workplace.
Many of our employees have their roots in countries such as
Cambodia where, for various reasons, there is widespread
poverty, corruption, and exploitation.
This was our way of giving back to the home places of some of
our valuable members.
The key to helping people in Cambodia was to raise some much
needed funds. A compelling story was presented to guests who
attended our Gala Ball in October 2017.
An overwhelming response to this story saw us allocate $100K to
this campaign. We were well on the road to creating something
special.
The projects identified in Cambodia focus on providing support
and assistance to families living in slum conditions who are trapped
in a vicious cycle of poverty. By focusing on children and providing
them access to education, we hope to improve the prospects for the
next generation.
Our intention is to fund programs and projects which provide a
sustainable income and can directly impact the future of these
communities.
giveaway
Operation Community Giveaway
The 28th July, 2017 was an exceptional day…. because it’s not every day you get
to give away $100K to charity.
Internally, we named it “Operation Community Giveaway”. We asked our ten
committee members to choose a children’s charity which was close to their heart.
They were asked to research the charity and report back to us, telling us how
the charity could benefit from a donation of $10,000.
But it wasn’t as simple as that; we wanted to produce a short documentary.
We contacted each of the charities and asked them if they would be willing to
participate in our film which would, in turn, be used to create awareness of
fundraising and volunteering opportunities which exist within our community.
We then set off on a road trip, camera person in tow, and visited each organisation
together with the committee member who nominated them. On our travels we
met many remarkable people; small groups who are each doing BIG things to
help children in their care and on their radar.
We were both humbled and excited about the prospect of being
able to lend a hand.
We didn’t tell them the real reason for our visit. Instead, we invited them to a
special luncheon under the guise of attending the launch of our documentary.
We wanted them to witness what we had created with their contribution, as
well as for them to get to know other likeminded charities.
It was a very emotional day for all present and it was extremely rewarding for all
of the committee members. And to top it all off, each group was presented with
a donation of $10,000.
The responses from our guests were priceless. One group was the recipient of
$20,000 after one of our committee members, upon viewing some preliminary
footage, decided that he would like to contribute his share to this very
worthwhile cause.
Days like this are the culmination and result of the hard work of the committee
members and the continuous contributions of the Turosi staff.
How wonderful that together we can achieve all of this and to think it started
from one cast stone.
golf day
Golf Day 2019
Over the years, we have built a wonderful relationship with the
Clown Doctors and our golfing guests are more than happy to put
their hands in their pockets for a good cause. In our travels around
the course, we did hear whispers of some underhanded tactics of
teams willing to ‘donate’ in order to gain an advantage over the
competition. Normally, we would not turn a blind idea to such ideas,
but when it’s all in the name of charity, who are we to intervene?
Congratulations to the winning team from De Luca Partners who
took out top honours, followed by the boys at Blue Box IT, believed
to have been boosted by our very own Andrew Christo –
National IT Manager (that’s according to Andrew, of course). The
encouragement award went to Oz Staff Team 2, who took it all in
their stride. It was pleasing to see more women on the course this
year, in particular the ‘Turosi Ladies’ led by Yvette Turner in
their vibrant attire, bringing lots of class to the event.
The atmosphere at our golf days is always a great thing to be a
part of. It is a sentiment echoed by many throughout the day and is
made even more colourful by the good cheer provided by the Clown
Doctors. This year we had the privilege of having Doctor Fizzy
Wizzy and Doctor Popoff on duty. Our golfers were checked over
and treated with doses of humour by these very talented doctors.
It is a privilege to organise events such as these, that bring together
so many like-minded people who are so willing to support important
causes, without expectation of anything in return. Sure, they get to
play a good round of golf and enjoy a fun-filled day, but the impact
of this goes far deeper.
The generosity of our sponsors means that the Clown Doctors can
do even more of what they do best, that is, they are able to conduct
more visits to more children in more hospitals. That is their goal and
we are extremely proud to be in a position to help them to achieve it.
The day was an overwhelming success with a donation of $28,700
being handed over to the Clown Doctors. This brings our tally to
over $160,000 since 2011, from this event alone. That is something
we at Turosi can all be proud of.
Our golf day is just one of the ways in which we make a difference
and it’s a great event to be a part of. I take this opportunity to
thank those who have assisted in planning the day and all of our
volunteers who helped to make the day such a success; an awesome
display of teamwork and people working together towards a
common goal.
Of course, days like this are only possible because of our sponsors.
Our sincerest gratitude to Phil Schols and the team at GPS Electrical
for being our major sponsor, together with Aviagen for sponsoring
our dinner, and Grant Thornton for sponsoring the golf balls.
Many thanks to all of our hole and team sponsors, we are
extremely grateful for your support.
I would also like to make special mention of Lee Ryan (National
QSR/FCD Sales Manager) for sharing his personal story about his
experience with the Clown Doctors when his son Fletcher was in
hospital. This heartfelt presentation reinforced the reason we
support the Clown Doctors, and to have it told by one of our own
really drove that home.
We look forward to welcoming all of our supporters back to the
green around the same time next year.
gala ball
Gala Ball 2019
It was our pleasure to welcome guests back to the magnificent Savoy Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, on October 12th, to celebrate all things Melbourne
This was the fifth gala ball for Turosi Giving, formerly known as Turi Trust; an
achievement we are incredibly proud of, given that our expertise is in
manufacturing food rather than manufacturing events.
The success of this event however had much less to do with our creative skills and
much more to do with the fact that we are passionate about our charity work and
we like to think we put our heart and soul into everything we do. Coupled with the
fact
that we had incredible support through our sponsors, our customers, our business
partners, and friends, the event’s success came as no surprise. When you gather
so many enthusiastic, generous and kind spirited people in one room, the outcome
is simply amazing.
Two years ago, almost to the day, we sat in the same room and we invited our
guests to come along with us on a journey; a journey to visit some of the world’s
most impoverished places; places where people barely have food to eat or a place
to call home. We plotted our course together and we travelled, virtually, over the
Australian Red Centre, over to India and back to Cambodia. Everywhere we went,
we left a footprint. The mark we left will remain long after we have come home,
because what we did will continue to make a difference well into the future. We are
so proud of everything we have achieved with Project Overseas.
Now, it was time to come home. What a contrast to where we have been. Familiar
sounds, familiar smells, clean streets, safe roads, infrastructure, transportation,
beautiful gardens...education, healthcare, democratic government,
opportunities.... the list goes on.
From the minute our 550 guests arrived ‘under the clocks’ with their specially
designed ‘Myki Cards’, they were met with typical scenes of Melbourne, from the
roving tram conductors, to the silver statutes, to the representation of the iconic
Flinders Street Station.
Considered among the world’s most liveable, Melbourne is a city alive with culture
and a love of food, fashion, coffee and sport; a city famous for the street art which
covers most laneways.
All of the street signs pointed to a wonderful evening, and as always the
entertainment on offer was first class. As we travelled ‘virtually’ through the
streets of Melbourne, we came across each of our entertainers, from show
openers ‘Superhoodz Crew’ who got the crowd buzzing, to ‘Soul Mystique’ whose
jaw dropping performance left us all wondering ‘how?’, and finally to winner of
‘The Voice 2019’, Diana Rouvas whose performance of some well-known ballads
just took our breath away.
Apart from having a great time, our sights were firmly set on raising lots of money
for our charity partners, The Mirabel Foundation and Kids Under Cover. These
wonderful organisations are at the forefront of youth homelessness in Victoria and
New South Wales. They intervene to prevent matters getting out of hand. Their
focus is on keeping young people at home and in education and they facilitate this
in a variety of ways from practical everyday support, advocacy, scholarships, and
by providing a place to call home.
To make it more real for our guests, we heard the heart breaking story of Lourine
Taylor and how this much loved grandmother had to put her entire life on hold to
care for the five children of her drug affected daughter, and how without the care
and support of our charity partners, the outcomes for these children may have
been very different.
Lourine was our special guest that evening, and we were touched by the
outpouring of love and compassion for her. This was a highlight of the evening, so
spontaneous and authentic, it demonstrated the spirit of our guests. I know that
Lourine was extremely touched by such displays of human kindness.
The result said it all: the highest amount ever raised at one of our events. A total
of $177,500 was donated to our special charities, which also included our local
hospitals in Geelong and Epping, Mission Engage Youth Programs and continued
support for our friends at the Shalom Cathedral School in India and The Amor
Key Project in Cambodia.
All of this was only possible because of the outpouring of generosity from our
incredible sponsors and wonderful guests. A heartfelt thank you to Matt Hand from
Chillfreeze Logistics and his family who were our Principal Partner for this event.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, and all who donated cash, prizes or their services.
We are extremely grateful for your contribution. My gratitude also to everyone who
helped make this evening so special from our creative design team and our
volunteers, to our wonderful Master of Ceremonies, Sara James, who injected so
much fun and warmth into the evening.
As always, this event is a wonderful representation of what is at the heart of Turosi.
For me, it is an absolute privilege to share this event with my fellow committee
members and colleagues. It reinforces how fortunate we are to have the
opportunity to give back to our community through our employer, and to enjoy the
rewards that come from it.
We look forward to doing it all again in 2021, until then I will be busy planning our
next adventure.