Treasurers Report

WORKPLACE GIVING PROGRAM

Thanks to the generosity of Victoria Police employees, we are quickly growing our capacity to financially support Special Olympics. Our workplace giving program is growing strongly, due in large part to our regular presentations to recruit squads at the Police Academy. The response from recruits in signing up to support LETR has been phenomenal.

This has given us significant capacity to support a wider range of innovative initiatives, consistent with promoting the Special Olympics aims. Over the next three years, our goal is to continue to engage with staff raising awareness about LETR and Special Olympics

CHEQUE PRESENTATION AT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

On 4th December 2019, as part of the celebrations of the International Day of People with a Disability, LETR Vic President Inspector Matt Volk presented Special Olympics Australia CEO Corene Strauss with a cheque for $122,000. This represents the funds raised by LETR Victoria in direct support of Special Olympics in the last twelve months.

These funds have helped us to provide equipment grants to Victorian Special Olympics clubs, direct financial support to Victorian athletes who travelled to the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi and National Winter Games in NSW, and in providing scholarships to support athletes undertaking certificate courses through Victoria Polytechnic.

In addition, it has allowed us to conduct our biggest ever engagement and awareness program to date. The 2019 Gippsland Regional Engagement and Awareness Tour (GREAT) was a week-long event across Gippsland involving Victoria Police employees, and hundreds of Special School students across the region, in torch runs and “Come and Try” sports events. For the first time, we also supported Special Olympics athletes to participate in the regional tour, with six athletes and their carers in two campervans joining in.

2020 AND THE FUTURE

Thanks to the support of all contributors and our major sponsor BankVic, LETR Vic is in a strong financial position moving forward. This year the LETR Committee endorsed a three-year budget plan that will see 100% of funds raised through workplace giving going directly to athlete support, equipment and awareness-raising activities. All administrative costs of running LETR will be met by other fundraising activities (eg. Merchandise sales and BBQs at VPC and Bunnings).

New programs are also being rolled out this year, with LETR Vic supporting Special Olympics to run local and regional sports events for special schools to enhance general health and wellbeing and as a development path into participation in Special Olympics club sports.

Andrew Beattie

LETR Victoria Treasurer