Mithen: Unleash war chest for charities
A GEELONG sign maker is the latest business owner to transform his product to help fight the spread of coronavirus.
Insight Signs business owner Marc Richmond has evolved his business in response to the COVID-19 crisis by developing cough shields to protect retail workers at essential businesses such as fruit store Harvey’s of Highton.
“The big motivator to why we started making cough shields was having my wife, who is a nurse, and other family members in the health profession and seeing how dangerous this virus is,” Mr Richmond said.
“By adapting the equipment we have in our factory to fold and customise perspex and acrylic sheeting, my staff and I went through ideas of how we could help our community.
“From researching what other countries have come up with we came up with cough shields.”
Mr Richmond said the shields give workers an extra layer of protection while still allowing them to interact with their customers.
“We are currently manufacturing shields for multiple health clinics, receptions and other essential businesses like Harvey’s of Highton,” he said.
“The orders already processed have helped keep my staff busy, knowing they are doing their part to help stop the spread of this virus.”
Fruiterer Georgina Lucas said the shields relieved anxiety for customers and staff. “Staff and customers can still see through the shields but they prevent droplet exposure,” she said.
“It’s so good because you can interact with customers and it feels so much safer.”
IT’S time for Australia’s biggest philanthropists to share their wealth to limit the economic and health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Geelong charity leader Bill Mithen says.
The G21 Alliance chairman and Give Where You Live CEO says charities are closing across Australia, so wealthy benefactors need to stop banking cash in trusts and foundations and start spending as much as possible to ensure their survival.
He said the concept of saving money for a rainy day had passed.
“It’s absolutely pouring, absolute torrential rain, right now, and we need to free up as much money as possible. We need a war chest so that charities can help those who need it most,” he said.
“A lot of charities won’t survive if we don’t invest in them now, some are already on the brink.
“Saving money for their future only makes sense if they can get through this crisis. Survival has to be the priority.”
With businesses closing daily, Mr Mithen said “big philanthropy needs to step up” to support rising numbers of hungry, unemployed and needy Australians.
In a cruel paradox, he said charities were under unprecedented pressure, with demand for their services increasing at the same time their access to volunteers and ability to raise money were compromised.
“As the economics of this crisis start to take hold, charities are already closing. Many more will follow leaving our most vulnerable community members even more vulnerable,” he said.
“‘In perpetuity’ doesn’t help them — forever is now.”
Many of Australia’s wealthiest people lower their tax obligations by contributing large sums of money into trusts and foundations, and Mr Mithen wants the money they’ve invested freed up immediately to keep charities afloat.
In an opinion piece submitted to the Geelong Advertiser today, Mr Mithen said Australia had more than 3000 registered trusts, and they held combined assets of $12 billion in assets.
He said they’d become more common because the growth of Australia’s economy, and most were established to exist forever, or “in perpetuity”.
But the impending recession meant this notion was now a “fallacy”, he said, and the focus had to shift exclusively to saving charities now and helping those who needed it.
“It is a time like now when we need to provide support more than ever,” Mr Mithen said.
“It is a time when we need to be courageous and, if necessary, change the rules and guidelines that are getting in the way. Legacies will be built during this time not by what money is stored but by what assistance is given.
“It is a time when we should give and help and act.”
PAGE 20