Worldwide Orphans Foundation Australia
In 2009, Allens was approached to assist in the establishment
of the Australian branch of the Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO), called
Worldwide Orphans Foundation Australia (WWO-A).
WWO is a US not-for-profit organisation, founded in 1997 by
renowned paediatrician Dr Jane Aronson. WWO transforms the lives of orphaned
children internationally through medical, developmental, psychological and
educational programs, which help the orphans become healthy, independent and
productive members of their communities. The 'aunties' program, for example,
involves local women from the community who spend time with the children, and
provide the care and attention required to address the developmental delays
caused by institutionalisation.
WWO-A is led by Dr Aronson, Deborra-Lee Furness and Tania Verjbitsky, and
supported by Angela Donohoe and Marion Pascoe. WWO-A will seek to create
awareness in Australia and raise funds for the implementation of these programs,
initially in Vietnam.
Allens has assisted in the establishment of the
organisation and its trust fund, and is currently assisting WWO-A with its
applications for fundraising authorities and tax concessions, so that it can
implement its fundraising initiatives and programs in Vietnam and other
countries where WWO is working to assist orphaned children.
WWO-A Director and Company Secretary Tania Verjbitsky
reflects on the charity's alliance with Allens:
When
I approached Fred Chilton (a partner at Allens in 2009),
with a request for assistance with the set-up of the
Australian subsidiary of Worldwide Orphans Foundation, I
was hopeful of a good pro bono client relationship;
however, the excellent and quality service we have
received has exceeded all expectations.
The work done by the Allens team has been
conducted with meticulous attention to every detail, to
exacting standards, complemented by a wealth of solid
empirical knowledge about charitable organisations
locally and globally, and personal commitments to the
Worldwide Orphans Foundation, all major elements in
uniting all involved in enthusiastic support of the
wonderful work Dr Jane Aronson and her international
teams are doing in this field of intense human need.
We commend the firm for their dedication, and
remain appreciative of the way our relationship with
Allens has enhanced our reputation so beneficially with
supporters.
State Schools Relief
Allens provided pro bono legal advice about the requirements
for the rules of association to State Schools Relief, an organisation that
supports disadvantaged children in the Victorian state school system by
providing them with clothing and footwear.
YGAP and Kinfolk Café
YGAP Co-Founder and General Manager Elliot Costello and Lawyers Ryan
Saundry and Lachlan Clancy talk about the fascinating Kinfolk Café
project.
View video
Plan International
Established in 1937, Plan International is one of the world's
leading development organisations, focusing on creating real, positive and
lasting improvement in the quality of life of disadvantaged children in
developing countries.
Operating in 48 developing countries across Africa, Asia and
the Americas, Plan HK was re-established in Hong Kong in late 2008. Allens has
assisted Plan HK on various corporate advisory and employment-related matters.
We have also advised Plan HK with respect to a fundraising agency and consulting
services agreement, and provided related regulatory advice regarding fundraising
activities in Hong Kong.
LEAPS! Mentoring Program
LEAPS!, or Law Firms Encouraging and Assisting Promising
Students, is a mentoring program run by the NSW Department of Education that
brings together law and professional services firms with schools with student
bodies suffering social and economic disadvantage.
The program matches staff from the firms with promising Year 9
students, and the pairs participate in fortnightly LEAPS! mentoring lunches held
at the firms throughout the school year. The sessions' topics are designed to
assist and encourage the students to reach their full potential, and range from
goal setting, study techniques, cyber bullying and achieving respect, to theatre
sports and trivia. The year ends with a graduation attended by the participants
and their families. A year later, the students and mentors reconvene for a
LEAPS! reunion. Allens recently celebrated its fifth year of LEAPS! reunions.
The students selected for the program are those for whom a mentoring program of this type will potentially make a real and lasting positive difference in their lives. Allens and HWL Ebsworth staff have mentored students from Holsworthy High School since 2005, and Allens staff have mentored students from Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design since 2006.
Rebuilding the Yangjia Middle School
Last year, we reported a story on how the firm provided pro bono legal assistance to ANZ and the Blue Scope Steel Group, which donated funds to rebuild a school damaged in the 2008 earthquake in Mianyang in Sichuan Province, China.
Working with the government of Mianyang, the organisations reconstructed the Yangjia Middle School.
This year, we can report that the result is a new 'green' building that accommodates up to 600 students and has been designed to the highest anti-seismic standard in the Chinese building codes.
Passages Resource Centre in Perth's mission is to provide a
safe, friendly and positive inner city service offering information, referrals
and support to marginalised young people aged 12 to 25 years.
Hear from Lawyer Joe Freeman about the work Allens does
for Passages Resource Centre.
View video
Kinah Foundation
Kianh Foundation is a small, grass-roots UK charity providing
health and education services to children with disabilities in Quang Nam
Province, Central Vietnam.
Allens worked with Kianh Foundation on establishing a centre
for children with disabilities in Hoi An. The firm advised on a range of issues,
including access to property, incorporation and other contract law advice.