Monica Patten
President: Council on Foundations of Canada

The Collaborators

Tasmanian Community Foundation
Dooloomai Project & Volunteers
Olympic Aid
Patrick Rafter Cherish The Children Foundation
Our fantastic local sponsors & donors

February 6, 2002 AROUND TASMANIA - THE MERCURY NEWSPAPER Rafter serves up winner for our kids at risk- Reporter: Brett Stubbs

AUSTRALIAN tennis great Pat Rafter hasn’t left all his good work on the court – he also works to help Tasmanian children. The 2000 Australian of the Year’s charity organization, the Patrick Rafter Cherish the Children Foundation, and Olympic Aid donated $90,000 to the Dooloomai Youth Project. Dooloomai – one of only three charitable organizations in Australia to get Foundation funds during the Olympic year– helps 11-to-14-year-olds- and others- throughout Tasmania who are at risk or who have high needs. Dooloomai has been running for eight years, helping about 150 young Tasmanians a year by offering bushwalking, kayaking, abseiling and camping to develop leadership, team work and self-confidence. Project co-ordinator, Steve Lord, said "The grant had been allocated to purchase a Toyota LandCruiser, capable of taking eight children and three adults to the remote Dooloomai camp in the Fingal Valley and elsewhere, camping equipment, and some invested for future provision of programs and building materials. We receive no government funding and rely heavily on volunteers".

Since visiting Dooloomai in 2000, Patrick's sister Louise and mother Jocelyn have been very supportive and the Cherish the Children Foundation has contributed a further $10,000 to the program in 2002.

Patrick Rafter - Cherish the Children Foundation in partnership with the Dooloomai Youth Project