Remarkable $30 million donation made to bushfire relief
As donations for firefighters and bushfire victims continue to rise by the millions, The Paul Ramsay Foundation has responded to the “national tragedy” by pledging a remarkable $30 million.
Set up by Australian private hospital tycoon and renowned philanthropist Paul Ramsay in 2006, the foundation, which works with disadvantaged Australians, said it has been “struck by the generosity of thousands of Australians and people around the world.”
“Today the foundation set aside $30million to support communities affected by the bushfires,” they said in a statement on Wednesday.
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The foundation said an initial $3million would be provided to the Red Cross, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and St Vincent De Paul for immediate relief while the remaining funds would be allocated for longer-term work in fire-ravaged communities.
“We are in this together,” the foundation’s CEO, Professor Glyn Davis AC, said.
“The Foundation is acutely aware that it is those already vulnerable to entrenched disadvantage who will be hardest hit by the consequences of the current bushfires.”
Long before Mr Ramsay’s death in 2014 at the age of 78, he left a lasting legacy as one of Australia’s most generous philanthropists after building a hospital empire across the nation.
In 2002, he became an Officer of the Order of Australia thanks to his charitable work.
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Forbes ranked Mr Ramsay as the 13th richest person in Australia in 2012.
The foundation’s donation follows a series of substantial donations from prominent Australians.
On Tuesday Chris Hemsworth announced he would be donating $1million to bushfire relief.
Aussie icon Kylie Minogue has also announced she and her family were pledging half a million dollars to ‘the immediate firefighting efforts and the ongoing support which will be required’ following the catastrophic blazes.
Celeste Barber has raised $41 million since starting a fundraising page on her Facebook account five days ago.
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