That’s a wrap | World Refugee Day Telethon 2024

Another World Refugee Day Telethon, powered by the ASRC has come to an end. What a special day it was and the rollercoaster of emotions following the tally until the last minute. The ASRC team snapped the last picture holding the cheque and turned off the live stream, thinking we were short just under the $1.4 million target. But as the team started packing to go home, the donations kept rolling in and before the lights turned off, we were at target and above!

Thanks to our community of compassion, we reached and surpassed 2024’s target with an astonishing $1,418,946.

We made it! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for every like, comment, share and dollar donated. Together, with a wonderful team of refugee leaders, celebrities, staff, and volunteers, we were able to reach our goal.
Whether it was $5 or $5,000, our community’s contribution helps power the ASRC to provide vital services to refugees and people seeking asylum, as they find hope, independence, and safety here.

The funds raised through the ASRC Telethon will enable us to:

• Provide crisis accommodation for a person seeking asylum with nowhere to go
• Help fund training and empowerment programs that increase employment opportunities for people seeking asylum
• Help provide a family seeking asylum with culturally familiar foods and essential groceries, including a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and personal hygiene kits
• Help empower people seeking asylum to lead the movement through media and advocacy training, public speaking and leadership development
• Help provide access to justice for people seeking asylum and fund the legal fight for their freedom and protection
• Continue to campaign, organise and lobby for systemic change

Thanks to our community, we are able to continue our commitment to always ensure we do our utmost to meet people’s most critical needs and to never stop fighting for their rights.

We are humbled by the commitment of so many people to standing with refugees and we loved celebrating such a special day with new and old friends alike.

A big thank you to our incredibly generous matched funding partners who doubled donations throughout the day: Valeska Bloch and Ben Friis-O’Toole & Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Da Gama Pinto Foundation and our anonymous donors.

Plus the friends, ambassadors and patrons of the ASRC who lent their voices to the cause.

We can’t forget to thank all the incredibly generous people and businesses that donated items for the auction out of the goodness of their hearts. Our auction this year was a huge success, bringing in $39,665.88.

For everyone who contributed, in whatever way they could, our hearts are full and we are so grateful.

The support of this compassionate community knows no bounds.

Thank you all for standing with refugees and being a force for change in the lives of people
seeking asylum.
____________________________________________________________________________
If you missed donating to the ASRC Telethon, but still want to support our work, please make a tax-deductible donation to the ASRC Winter Appeal. Your support enables our work with refugees and people seeking asylum getting them access to food, housing, basic needs and medical care.