FMA doubles donations on awards night

FMA doubles donations on awards night Facility management industry body raise money for kids’ cancer research.

Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt welcomed the best in facilities management when the annual FM Industry Awards for Excellence was held on 15 November.

While the black tie dinner celebrated a year of industry leadership, innovation and achievement, there was also a philanthropic element, with $20,000 donated to The Kids’ Cancer Project, charity partner of the Facility Management Australia (FMA).
 
FMA represent and support professionals and organisations responsible for the operational management of Australia’s built environments. The peak national industry body provides a range of services to members, including advocacy and industry standards development, research, networking and information based events and seminars, education and professional development opportunities and support for special interest groups. 


L-R:Owen Finegan, Kristiana Greenwood (FMA Chair), Nicholas Burt (FMA CEO) and Sammy J, the event's MC.

The Kids’ Cancer Project is an independent national charity funding childhood cancer research. CEO and former Wallaby Owen Finegan said the charity is deeply grateful to have been affiliated with FMA for over 12 months.

“During that time the FMA have donated over $100,000 to childhood cancer research,” Finegan said. “They have been relentless in their fundraising efforts, holding conferences, golf days, lunches and gala dinners with The Kids’ Cancer Project as sole beneficiary.”

At last year’s awards ceremony, the industry raised just over $9,000. Finegan said he was overwhelmed to have doubled that amount this year.


George Stamas, Director of GJK Facillity Services pictured with colleague, Jaqui Maree.

“The event truly brought out the best in the industry,” he said. “My team could barely keep up with raffle ticket sales and donations throughout the evening. The team at GJK Facility Services gave an extraordinary $6,000.”

“As the night was coming to a close and we added up the kitty we had exactly $19,500. After a quick announcement, FMA legend and Life Member Duncan Waddell gave $500 to help us go home with a generous round figure.”


Duncan Waddell, FM Intelligence Managing Director takes the stage. 

Finegan addressed the crowded ballroom, sharing how the charity started with just one man who made a difference and explaining how it’s only through the generosity of the community that kinder, more effective treatments will be discovered to help the 950 kids that are diagnosed every year – making it a disease that kills more Australian children than any other.

He also presented a new television commercial that demonstrates what the charity does in a creative way – connecting scientists to kids affected by cancer.


 

“Corporate sponsors and industry bodies like the FMA are enabling us to achieve our mission – 100 per cent survival of all children diagnosed with cancer, while eradicating the harmful impacts treatment can bring,” Finegan said.

“We congratulate all the award winners and thank the event sponsors, organisers and volunteers who made the evening a great success.”


Volunteers from Apple Marketing helped raise $20,000 for The Kids' Cancer Project.
 
 
Donate to research and help find more effective treatments for kids with cancer.