Some people just don’t know when enough is enough! 

As if organising a HUGE upcoming fundraising charity dinner for us wasn’t enough to tackle, Dave Vanags has jus completed the Great Wall of China Half-Marathon to raise funds for us. 

Now, that’s not just any old half-marathon on the flat – Dave had to tackle 5,164 steps along the way – I’m tired just thinking about it. And it’s not as if he’s a seasoned marathon runner – this was Dave’s first.

To maximise the result for I Give A Buck! Dave arranged for a sponsorship page to be built on the website for the upcoming Vanags Family Charity Night and we did the same on the IGAB website. 

Our Sponsor Dave Appeal raised $588

The Vanags Family Charity Night page raised…………

Well, actually, I don’t know how much it raised. They won’t tell me! David and his wonderful wife Tanya are keeping it a secret to be announced at the upcoming dinner on June 4th – meanies.

In the end, it really doesn’t matter what the number is.

What matters is that there are people in our world like Tanya & David Vanags; people willing to put themselves to the test for a cause that they believe in.

Organising a charity night is a very difficult thing to do. Organising one to be held in Sydney whilst you’re living in China is unimaginable. The Vanags are living in China for two years for Dave’s work but they didn’t let that stop them.  Dave works long hours. Tanya has two pre-school aged children to look after in a foreign country. Yet, somehow, they’ve juggled work commitments, family illnesses, family bereavements, language barriers, distance barriers and a whole host more, to do something very special; something that will change so many little lives.

And they’ve managed to do it with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts. They are the loveliest people to work with, always happy and positive and encouraging.  I consider myself blessed to have them as part of my life and I simply cannot wait to meet them on June 4th.  

Barb Blashki – Founder

Australian children’s charity I Give A Buck Foundation of Australia Ltd assists children from disadvantaged families who also suffer from a life-threatening or life-altering illness or condition – with particular focus on terminally ill children.

Today we were able to purchase some fantastic educational packs for Alannah thanks to some grant funding from the Grosvenor Foundation.

The items were from Pyramid Educational Consultants of Australia who provide a wide range of services and products for families and educators of individuals with autism and related disabilities.

We hope that Alannah has lots of fun with her new activity packs and that they help her to develop her communication skills.

To read Alannah’s story click here.

Australian children’s charity I Give A Buck Foundation of Australia Ltd assists children from disadvantaged families who also suffer from a life-threatening or life-altering illness or condition – with particular focus on terminally ill children.

Two years ago today our charity was created and all the hard work began behind the scenes…

So a big Happy Birthday to all of those wonderful people who have helped to make this dream a reality!

Special thanks to Doug Amos who has been there since day one.  And to Liat Harrower who may have come in later but, boy, has she made up for it since!  And to my wonderful family, also there since day one; my husband Peter who is forever my rock and my gorgeous kids Jack & Mia who are a constant source of helpful ideas and inspiration.

Special thanks also to Caroline Whiteside. Caroline sat at my table and listened when I first started putting my ideas together and gave valued advice. Since then she’s volunteered her time to help with administrative tasks, has sent me links to every useful article she’s stumbled across that may prove to be of some help (and many have) and donated to just about every appeal we’ve ever run.  Just last month she made it to the BIG Buckers Club!

There are so many people who have helped along the way and I’m sure to forget someone (sorry!) but I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing contributions, both financial and other, of:  Louise Ambry, Melissa Kearney, Charley Jones, The Quigley Family, Ricky Buchanan, Anne Oberin, Dani McLeod, Hava Eski Balci, Kate Butterfield, Scott Grinter, Kim Pickering, Melissa Lane, David & Tanya Vanags and Salli Lockhart.

Thank you to our inaugural Ambassador Blake Worrall-Thompson from Ministry of Wellbeing and to our terrific sponsors: Green Label Web Design, Artsy-Tec , Immij Printing, Sportspartners and PharmaSave.

Much of our work has been possible due to receiving grants from the following wonderful organisations: Australian Unity Foundation, Grosvenor Foundation, Australian Ethical Investment & Superannuation, Salesforce Foundation and Google.  Thank you so much for your invaluable assistance.

But the vast majority of our work has been possible due to the wonderful donations that we receive from all the fabulous members of our little community who really do give a buck in every sense! – There have been a lot of little lives changed over the last year or so and you should all be very proud. Thank you.

The biggest thank you must to go to families of our wonderful IGAB children.  They have trusted us to share their stories with our community and we love them for it.

Happy Birthday Everyone!

Barb Blashki – Founder
Australian children’s charity I Give A Buck Foundation of Australia Ltd assists children from disadvantaged families who also suffer from a life-threatening or life-altering illness or condition – with particular focus on terminally ill children.

We have an exciting Charity Night Auction Item SCOOP to share with you all!!!

We have just been advised that renown celebrity chef Damian Heads from the hit Channel 10 show Ready, Steady Cookhas generously offered his own time and immense talent once again in support of The 10th Annual Vanags Family & Friends Charity Night – this year supporting I Give A Buck!.

Four people will get to visit Damian’s top 5 star restaurant Steel Bar & Grill in Sydney on a Saturday lunch (on a date to be confirmed when the restaurant is closed) and cook a lovely 3 course lunch with Damien in his AMAZING kitchen!

He will guide all four of you through the whole cooking experience and then you’ll get to sit in the restaurant with him and enjoy the wonderful food you have all created!

We’re also very excited that Damian and his wife Jenni will be joining us again as guests at The Epping Club on Saturday 4 June!

Brisbane born Damian started his career in the kitchens at the Brisbane Hilton. He stayed just long enough to complete his apprenticeship … the day after Damian finished his apprenticeship he was on a plane to Europe, with his knives packed in his backpack.

By January 2000, he was back in Sydney, as Sauce Chef at the Bennelong Restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. In mid 2001 he moved to Milsons as Chef de Partie, and the next year he was awarded the Josephine Pignolet Award for Best Young Chef.

In 2003 he opened the very popular Garfish, before embarking on a six month study trip (as part of his prize for the Josephine Pignolet Award) through Europe and the United Kingdom, visiting a wide variety of restaurants and meeting with some of the world’s best chefs.

On returning to Australia early 2005 Damian took the role of Head Chef at Fuel Bistro, Surry Hills, Sydney.

In 2006 Damian joined forces with synonymous architect Michael McCann (best known for Flying Fish, The Argyle, Toko and many more) in his restaurant Pony, situated in The Rocks on the doorstep of Sydney Harbour. He opened Steel 2 years later in the CBD, and then late last year, added a second Pony Restaurant in Neutral Bay.

Check out Damian’s restaurants www.ponydining.com.au & Steel Bar and Grill www.steelbarandgrill.com

Please share this post with anyone you know who may be interested in this fantastic one-off opportunity.  You don’t even have to be present on the night – you can let Tanya know what your bid is  at any time. 

So start thinking about the people you would like to share this with, and get your bids ready!!