Chairman's Report
The past twelve months has been a period of consolidation and restructure for the Bone Growth Foundation which has been stimulated in part by the Global Financial Crisis. The prudent investment strategy has weathered the 08/09 -9.8% and 07/08 -8.1% storm to return to a more positive predication for 09/10 to be +14.2%. The portfolio now valued as at 10th of May, 2010 of $1,751,418 which will ensure a bright future for the Foundation.
The appointment of Joanna Cook as Fundraising Manager has resulted in new fundraising initiatives, in particular a successful dinner in 09 at the Wine Centre and the new partnership with the World Tennis Challenge in January of this year. Nicola Proud and Elizabeth Miller have ably supported her and now we are running particularly lean on expenses.
Board members Elizabeth Thompson and Belinda Grant and ex-officio Neil Hansen have now provided an application for a research funding document that reflects the broadening and maturing process for grant funding on a national basis.
Current funding ARE for projects at the University of South Australia, SA (Associate Professor Cory Xian), Women’s and Children’s Hospital, SA (Dr Peter Cundy & Dr Leanne Sutherland, PhD), Westmead Children’s Hospital, NSW (Associate Professor David Little), Australian National University, ACT (Associate Professor Paul Smith) and The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, VIC (Professor John Bateman, PhD).
All board members have given of their time, but in particular I wish to thank Derek Butler and new member Alex Knoll for their help ensuring that the World Tennis Challenge run over three nights was an ambitious and wonderfully successful function.
International collaboration with the Fitbone Device continues with the Dallas, Basel and Toulouse Centres firmly established as centres of excellence, providing patients with the opportunity to have this improved bone lengthening method. The Chairman’s visit to Dallas in February, 2010 provided the possibility that other satellite centres in the USA will be using this method in 2011.
A special appreciation to Mr Tass Roufos and to ISIS who this year have donated their one millionth dollar. I plan to acknowledge that with a presentation in August in Melbourne. I also wish to acknowledge and give a special appreciation to Matt Tyler from Big W for their ongoing support with an aimed $500,000 donation to be completed this year.
I wish to thank all the donors and volunteers who continue to breathe life into this endeavour.
Bruce Foster
