The Fred Hollows Foundation has been appointed charity partner for 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve – an event that is certain to be the biggest and best with Kylie Minogue as its Creative Ambassador.
The City of Sydney hopes the partnership will raise the profile and help the work of The Foundation, as it celebrates 20 years of restoring sight.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said The Fred Hollows Foundation was an ideal partner for Sydney New Year’s Eve, which marks the end of one year, and the beginning of another, with the visual feasts of the 9PM Family Fireworks and Midnight Fireworks displays.
“The Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to over one million people around the globe over the past two decades,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The Foundation began as a simple idea around a dining table in Sydney in 1992 and is now restoring sight in more than 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Vietnam.
“I can’t imagine greater joy than giving someone back the gift of sight so they can see the world around them, from their family to their homes and their villages – and even events like the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks displays.
“I hope The Fred Hollows Foundation enjoys another 20 successful years of ending avoidable blindness and changing lives and I encourage Sydneysiders to donate to this wonderful charity: for just a $25 donation, you can restore sight and give someone a brighter future.”
The Foundation is inspired by the work of the late eye surgeon Professor Fred Hollows (1929-93), a passionate activist for social justice, who championed the right of all people to high-quality and affordable eye care and good health.
The Fred Hollows Foundation's Chief Executive Officer, Brian Doolan, said it was a great honour to be working hand-in-hand with the City of Sydney as part of its New Year's Eve festivities.
"This is an amazing opportunity to tell Fred's story and to generate support for restoring sight and improving Indigenous health,” Mr Doolan said.
"The Foundation has a strong connection to the city ─ we were born in Sydney, grew-up in Sydney, are based in Sydney and it's from Sydney that we reach out to the rest of the world.
"By choosing The Fred Hollows Foundation as its 2012 Sydney New Year's Eve partner, the City of Sydney is helping us keep Fred's legacy alive.”