Thank you to all those that nominated their heroes for the 2016 Research Australia Health & Medical Research Awards. 2016 has seen the highest number of nominations and the stories are amazing. We are enjoying sharing some of them with you.

Leadership in Corporate Giving Award recognises outstanding leadership by a corporation or business in giving to and supporting health and medical research. This is not necessarily about the actual amounts donated, rather it’s the relationship or partnership and commitment over time that is an important dimension of effective corporate giving. Which of these amazing people below will join the ranks of the prestigious Leadership in Corporate Giving Award alumni including: Channel Seven Perth, Coco’s Fresh Food Market Queensland, Estee Lauder, L.J. Hooker, Wesfarmers Ltd, Pfizer Australia, Macquarie Group Foundation, David Jones, Xstrata Coal, Rio Tinto, Bupa

Discover previous winners in all Award categories, including video’s from the 2015 winners.

2016 Leadership in Corporate Giving Award Nominees

Volvo Car Australia

volvo-photo — Gus Larkin, flanked by brother Van and cousin Otis Rose-Larkin, at a NSW Waratahs match. Gus, who tragically died from brain cancer in 2013, was a special guest of Volvo Car Australia, proud sponsors of Cure Brain Cancer, the NSW Waratahs’ chosen matchday charity.

Nominators: Ben Sarson | Cure Brain Cancer and Philip Van Schalkwyk | NSW Waratahs

Volvo Car Australia have been a major corporate sponsor of Cure Brain Cancer since 2010. At the time Cure Brain Cancer was a small organisation with only one research project. With Volvo’s support, the Foundation has grown considerably and now, working with partners in Australia and internationally, is helping to steer the global brain cancer research agenda to accelerate treatments to patients and improve survival. Cure Brain Cancer now backs 24 research projects, and was recently named Australian Charity of the Year 2016 and also the 25th most innovative company (and highest ranked charity) in the AFR most innovative companies awards.

And its not just about the financial support from Volvo Cars; it’s also the introductions they’ve facilitated. Volvo Cars introduced CBCF to the NSW Waratahs which has led to the Charity Match program, giving CBCF a great boost through fundraising initiatives and raising awareness for brain cancer, including attracting high profile individuals who are now ambassadors to the cause.

Kimberly Clark Australia

Nominators: Megan Donnell | Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation and Daniel Madhavan | Impact Investing Australia

Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) has been a proud sponsor of the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation (SCF) since 2014. What began as a local fundraiser at Milsons Point (north Sydney) has now evolved into a company-wide campaign involving 300 employees across several Kimberly-Clark Australia sites.

In September 2014, staff from across KCA nation-wide participated in a 10km Walkathon, along with other fundraising activities. In total, over $40,000 was raised for the foundation, which doubled to $80,000 as part of Kimberly-Clark’s Workplace Giving Program. The 2014 donation contributed to the SCF’s inaugural milestone payment towards clinical trials for the treatment of Sanfilippo Syndrome.

Thanks to these generous donations, the Sanfilippo organisation has been able to fund the first clinical trials in both Australia and the United States, which is one step closer to finding a cure and saving the lives of many of the children living with this disease.

QBE Insurance

Nominators: Robert Wynn | The Kids’ Cancer Project and Jennifer Byrne | Kids’ Research Institute

Since 2013, the QBE Foundation’s Australian committee has been advocating for and funding medical research into childhood cancer. The foundation has worked closely with The Kids’ Cancer Project and other charity partners to make a significant and meaningful impact on childhood cancer research, raising much-needed funds through financial contributions, staff fundraising, matched giving and volunteering. The QBE Foundation specifically funds innovative research with the greatest impact on childhood cancer survival.

QBE is proud to support The Kids Cancer Project and its work and promotes awareness of its work to its customers and wider community.

Michaelis Bayley Holdings

Nominators: Natalie Mendan | Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and Belinda Brooks | Alfred Health

Three million Australians over the age of 25 will have diabetes by 2025 if numbers continue to rise at the current rate. Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia and contributes significantly to the biggest killer of Australians, cardiovascular disease.

homyped® is an innovative foot care company that is renowned for providing shoes that offer style, comfort and support. In 2006 homyped recognised the importance of foot care for people with diabetes and approached Baker IDI with a vision to develop a range of shoes specifically for people suffering with this debilitating disease.

From this vision has developed an enduring partnership that supports Baker IDI to promote good foot health for people with diabetes and gives back to the Institute and its research. The outcome of this partnership is a range of shoes that reduce the chance of developing pressure, rubbing and abrasion related sores which are of significant concern for people with diabetes. It’s estimated that 4,400 diabetes-related amputations occur in Australia each year.

With over 45 years heritage, and a health and wellbeing background, homyped® is one of the most trusted, innovative comfort footwear brands sold throughout pharmacy in Australia.