Smith Family Partners with AMP for Christmas Cheer

The Smith Family has launched its 2004 Christmas appeal with the announcing a $2 million two-year partnership with one of Australia’s leading companies AMP.

The agreement with the AMP Foundation will support:

– A 10 per cent increase in the number of disadvantaged students participating in The Smith Family’s education support program Learning for Life bringing the total number of students receiving assistance to more than 24,000;

– Widespread awareness of The Smith Family’s 2004 Christmas appeal;

– Further research into the impact of disadvantage on young people’s perceptions of work, study and training by surveying all Year 10, 11 and 12 Learning for Life students.

The Smith Family’s CEO Elaine Henry says the organisation is aiming to raise almost $4 million from this year’s Christmas appeal to support disadvantaged children and their families at Christmas and throughout the year.

The Smith Family was founded on Christmas Eve 82 years ago in 1922 by five businessmen calling themselves ‘the Smiths’ who decided to deliver toys to children at a Sydney orphanage.

Henry says it is fitting that in 2004, that they launch their Christmas appeal with the announcement of this significant partnership with one of Australia’s leading corporates.

AMP CEO Andrew Mohl says The Smith Family was selected because of its focus on education as a way of helping disadvantaged Australians in communities where our people live and work.

Mohl says AMP’s focus is in community involvement and youth employment and through Learning for Life, The Smith Family is equally committed to ensuring children and young people can make the most of their school, work and life opportunities.

Learning for Life aims to prevent financial disadvantage by ensuring that children from disadvantaged families can stay in school or training and get a good education. There are currently 22,000 children and young people receiving support through Learning for Life across 60 locations throughout Australia. These students are supported by 117 Education Support Workers.

Through the Learning for Life program, funding from the AMP Foundation will provide:
– Literacy support to disadvantaged students with poor reading skills
– Mentors to assist young people to make the transition from school to work and/or training
– Career advice and skills to young people ‘at risk’ of dropping out
– Information, advocacy and support for students and their families through qualified Education Support Workers

The Smith Family’s 2004 Christmas appeal highlights:
– $4 million target
– 14,500 Christmas hampers distributed to disadvantaged families throughout Australia
– 23,000 toy and book parcels delivered to children in homes throughout the country

The AMP Foundation was established in 1992 and invests in two key areas: community involvement and initiatives to counter youth unemployment.

AMP believes that by combining company and community resources it is possible to deliver effective and outstanding social returns. In addition, AMP employees and financial planners are being encouraged to donate their time and skills to helping its community partners through the Community Fundraising and Volunteering Programs.

The Smith Family/AMP Foundation Partnership details…

$1 million in the first year to:
– Support to promote The Smith Family’s Christmas appeal
– Expand Learning for Life by 10 per cent
– Further research into the impact of disadvantage on the perceptions of work, training and study among young people
– Opportunities for AMP staff to:
Become Learning for Life sponsors
Volunteer to mentor Learning for Life university students
Take part in online volunteering to check student progress reports
Teach English skills to newly arrived migrants and refugees through Each One Teach One
Help out at Christmas by packing and distributing hampers, toys and books for families and children in need

A further $1 million in the second year of the partnership to support The Smith Family’s programs.