Aussies are being urged to throw their support behind first responder and emergency service-related charity organisations for the chance to win this Thank A First Responder Day, Wednesday 7 June 2023.
From marine rescue teams to hospital workers, more than 370,000 first responders work and volunteer in Australia to protect our communities and keep us safe.
More than 30 of the nation’s leading first responder and emergency service-related charity organisations have joined the not-for-profit raffle Play For Purpose to raise much-needed funds. To date, they have collectively raised more than $1.6 million via Play For Purpose.
From Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation and Lifeflight Foundation to CQ Rescue and Marine Rescue Bundaberg, these first responder and emergency service-related causes are hoping for a surge of support ahead of the close of Play For Purpose’s next raffle on Thursday 15 June.
Since joining Play For Purpose in April 2019, Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars through the raffles and hopes to surpass $300,000 by the end of next week.
Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation CEO Neil Soullier said support from Play For Purpose helped the community-based organisation remember Victoria Police members who have died in the line of duty.
“The bulk of our funds are allocated to public hospitals across Victoria for the building of new and improved medical facilities that benefit all Victorians. Through this work, we are able to remember lives by saving others,” he said.
“If you were to present to almost any urgent care hospital in Victoria, chances are you would be treated in a space funded by the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation. Every new facility we create is named in memory of a fallen Victoria Police member.
“We recently launched our Police Assistance Dog (PAD) program to provide highly trained dogs to veteran members inflicted with extreme PTSD from the challenging and dangerous situations they’ve confronted over time. The dogs become a constant companion to their owners.
“People often have their first contact with a first responder on what could be described as the worst day of their life. Whether it be a medical emergency, a personal threat to themselves or their families, a fire or other dangerous emergency, these events can be life-altering.
“It takes very special people to do all of this for strangers so we should take every opportunity we can to simply say ‘thank you’.
Play For Purpose spokesperson Matt Hart said it was the first time the not-for-profit community raffle had thrown its support behind Thank A First Responder Day.
“From pandemics to natural disasters, the events of recent years have reminded us of the importance of our first responders and emergency-related organisations and what they do every day to keep our communities safe,” he said.
“Supporting those that support these everyday heroes is just one way we can say thank you. Many of these charities are grassroots organisations raising funds to support the well-being of first responders so they can continue to do what they do every day.
“We hope it’s a win-win for everyone – vital funds for the nation’s leading community organisations and the chance to win one of hundreds of prizes, including a First Prize Pack worth more than $250,000.”
Play For Purpose is a not-for-profit raffle that helps to raise funds for charities and grassroot sports programs in Aussie communities.
The current Play For Purpose raffle is open at playforpurpose.com.au and closes on Thursday 15 June 2023 at 8pm AEST. It offers a $250,000 First Prize Pack that includes a Volkswagen Crafter Kampervan and more than $100,000 in gold bullion. There are 395 prizes to be won each raffle.
Since 2018, Play For Purpose has announced almost 50,000 winners and raised over $ 7 million for charitable causes.
