Novita Annual Report 2012 (Large file - PDF - 4Mb )

marketinghighlight01ability first australia’s annual‘walk with me’ event supportedby novita for the second yearin early september 2011. morethan 300 clients, families andsupporters participated.Novita’s Marketing Divisionhas continued itscommitment to enhancingthe organisation’s brand through awide range of activities and events.Highlights and achievements2011-12 has been a time ofsignificant readjustment, as peopleand governments weathered theaftermath of the global financialcrisis. Unsurprisingly, this hasimpacted on Novita’s fundraisingefforts. Notwithstanding, it ispleasing to report that NovitaMarketing was able to consolidateand make advances on a numberof fronts. A record amount wasraised in the 2011 West EndMighty River Run and Novita’sprofile in social media has beenenhanced substantially. Our nightlyBingo operations have movedfrom strength to strength and aplanned refurbishment of theBingo facilities should furtherenhance patronage.Fundraising and eventsNovita’s fundraising efforts wereagain underpinned by the generosityof many South Australians whodonated, participated, or raisedmoney on behalf of NovitaChildren’s Services.Hundreds of children living withdisabilities pulled on their walkingshoes and walked into the Novitarecord books in September 2011when they and their families andfriends joined the annual Walk WithMe event in Bonython Park.Thousands of dollars were raisedon the day and the record turn-outeclipsed the previous year’s event.Walk With Me is a communityevent, run under the auspices ofAbility First Australia, whichcelebrates ability and encouragessocial inclusion for children livingwith disabilities and their families.It was gratifying that so manyfamilies took part in a leisurely45-minute walk around theparklands and then joined Novitastaff, clients and other participantsfor a picnic in the park.More than 20 groups ran forNovita in the 2011 City-Bay FunRun. It was the 39th City-Bayevent and approximately 35,000people took part. Novitasupporters raised more than$20,000 for the organisationwhen they participated eitheras businesses or as individuals.The special event helped raisecommunity awareness of theNovita brand with supporterswearing specially designed t-shirtsemblazoned with the Novita logo.Central District Football Club(CDFC), one of the most successfulclubs in the South AustralianFootball League, further cementedrelations with Novita, with leadingplayers, Chris and James Gowansat the forefront of fundraising andpromotional activities in 2011. Dueto retire at the end of the 2012season, the twins exemplified thespirit of collaboration that existsbetween CDFC and Novita inworking for our young clients, toconnect them with their worlds.Novita looks forward to acontinuation of its relationshipwith CDFC in future years.Following months of fundraisingand preparations, 32 crewsembarked on the fifth annualWest End Mighty River Run.This year’s event, again helmedby Ambassadors Jason ‘Snowy’Carter (Mix102.3) and John Riddell(Channel 7), cruised the river fromWaikerie to Goolwa and the MurrayMouth. Crews, many of them in skiboats, were granted permission tocross Lake Alexandrina - a highlightfor all participants. Friendships wereformed or renewed, and the eventraised $158,000 for Novita – thehighest amount to date, takingthe total raised across the fiveyears to $561,000.The Novita Golf Day was heldon a hot summer’s day in February.Playing the challenging KooyongaGolf Course, 24 teams raised morethan $10,000. Following the match,players were treated to a sumptuousdinner, with entertainment bycomedian Dave Flanagan.After months of tireless training,Kathryn and Ben Goldsmithcompleted the 42 kilometre NewYork Marathon to raise funds forNovita. Their daughter, Annie, wasthe focus of Novita’s 2012 Easterappeal, which attracted donationsfrom across Australia.Novita sincerely thanks eachperson and organisation who hasgiven their support in some wayover the past 12 months. Withouttheir involvement, Novita could notprovide its services to the morethan 2,000 children in SouthAustralia living with disabilitiesand special needs.26 novita children’s serivces annual report