Purple Day, the annual fundraiser for Epilepsy Action Australia, is under threat. Epilepsy sufferer Joel Baines is pictured with mum Jackie and sister Brooke.
IF YOU’RE seething over the loss of a hundred dollar gift card, spare a thought for the real victims of the Dick Smith collapse.
Hundreds of thousands of children and adults helped by Epilepsy Action Australia stand to lose out, after the charity lost its major annual fundraiser sponsor.
In a deal signed off just weeks before the electronics retailer went into voluntary administration, Dick Smith promised $50,000 — plus three $1000 gift vouchers as raffle prizes — to be Purple Day’s exclusive sponsor.
Now the charity is scrambling to fill a $200,000 funding black hole and salvage Purple Day, scheduled for March 26. The organisation’s entire annual funding is at stake.
Chief executive Carol Ireland told news.com.au she hoped a white knight would come forward and save the day, urging business titans to seize the opportunity.
“The deal with Dick Smith was not one-sided,” she emphasised.
In previous years, she said, when the retailer was one of several major sponsors, it had benefited greatly from the marketing exposure to Purple Day’s broad supporter base.
“We have a huge following on Facebook — we were bringing people into their stores,” Ms Ireland said.
Epilepsy Action Australia boss Carol Ireland hopes a new sponsor will come forward.Source:News Limited
So happy was Dick Smith with last year’s Purple Day that it pushed for exclusive sponsorship this time around, but unfortunately this left the charity empty-handed at the eleventh hour.
Some of the promotional materials had already been sent to the printer when Dick Smith went under, and now Ms Ireland has just two weeks to organise the rebranding, including merchandise that she hoped would raise as much as $50,000.
And the gift card raffle prizes are not worth the plastic they’re printed on.
Ms Ireland has not been able to get a response from Dick Smith, its administrators or receivers detailing their position. Her only hope rests in another sponsor picking up the slack.
Epilepsy Action Australia helps children with epilepsy and their families to overcome barriers to enjoying life with an illness which, research shows, can leave people feeling isolated, anxious and overprotective.
Its services include education and advice to help sufferers manage their symptoms, along with free residential “adventure therapy” camps for people with epilepsy and their families.
And the charity spreads awareness to bolster community understanding and support.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting up to two per cent of the population and causes seizures, although many sufferers keep these at bay by taking medication.
Dick Smith is still trading, but receiver Ferrier Hodgson will not honour gift cards or deposits. Picture: Matt GarrickSource:Supplied
Ms Ireland said that although she had heard about Dick Smith’s share price tumbling in recent weeks, she did not realise things were so dire — and that the company had assured her everything was fine.
Dick Smith’s lenders forced the company into receivership yesterday after it went into voluntary administration.
This came after two profit downgrades, a $60 million inventory write-off and what commentators dubbed a “suicidal” pre-Christmas fire sale.
News.com.au has contacted Dick Smith receiver Ferrier Hodgson for comment.
dana.mccauley@news.com.au
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