Continued support from Dick and Pip Smith

PICTURED: Libby Lombardo, left, Dick Smith, Isabella Lombardo, Charlie Ward and Pip Smith at the presentation of the smiths’ $1 million donation to RAWCS.

On 16 September, leaders from the corporate sector, community, government and Rotary met at Customs House in Sydney, NSW, to acknowledge the generosity of Dick Smith OAM and Pip Smith, who have pledged a further $1 million to Rotary Australia World Community Service’s (RAWCS) Compassionate Grants program.

When matched by Rotary clubs, this will provide up to $2 million in additional support for those experiencing extreme hardship.

Since 2017, the Compassionate Grants program has delivered more than $6 million, through more than 200 grants via more than 150 Rotary clubs, in direct aid to Australian individuals, families and groups. RAWCS CEO Mahir Momand said the new pledge would extend the program’s reach even further.

The Smiths’ generosity, combined with the matching support of Rotary clubs, will transform lives across Australia,” Mahir said. “The Compassionate Grants program has already supported hundreds of Australians in crisis, and this new commitment ensures we can continue to provide immediate, practical help where it is needed most.”

This latest $1 million is in addition to $2 million already provided by Dick and Pip, who kick-started the RAWCS Compassionate Grants program.

“In 2016, then president of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie, NSW, Bob Cleland and I discussed how donations could be used to help people in distress who need assistance,” said Dick. “This launched the RAWCS Compassionate Grants program, which has given Pip and I the most incredible satisfaction.

“We donate money knowing that it goes to groups of people who spend thousands of hours working out who it goes to and who should be assisted.

“I thank everyone for the work all in Rotary do.”

Isabella’s journey to walk

A moving part of the evening was when Libby Lombardo shared how support from Compassionate Grants changed her daughter’s life.

At four, Isabella lived in constant pain from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Doctors in Australia said little could be done beyond ongoing pain management injections. With support from RAWCS Compassionate Grants, the Isabella’s Journey to Walk Project was established, enabling funding for life-changing surgery in the US.

Several operations and many hours of intensive rehab later, Isabella, now 13, is pain free, can stand independently and walk with a frame, which she demonstrated at the event.

Assisting survivors of domestic violence

Past District Governor Christine Owen, Chair of District 9685 Respectful Relationships Program, also shared how a RAWCS Compassionate Grant helped ‘Say No to Domestic and Family Violence and Yes to Respectful Relationships’ form a scholarship and bursary program in her district.

Education is the key,” said Christine. “We set up Safe Hands bursaries for school aged children who are survivors of domestic violence and Strong Arms scholarships for adult survivors.”

These programs received two RAWCS Compassionate Grants – each for $5,000 – which have been matched through Rotary club donations. They also raised $65,000 from Rotary clubs, members and others.