Ocsober – Australian Health Month – reaches 55% funding

Added by on October 18, 2012

Ocsober, a fundraiser that benefits Australian Life Education, has reached 55% of its funding target for the month. Ocsober is a fundraising initiative that encourages Australians to give up alcohol for the month of October.

Ocsober is a combination national fundraising effort and educational campaign targeting school-age children to challene their values and attitudes, expanding their knowledge and developing their healthy lifestyle skills. Participants, called Legends, are encouraged to seek sponsorship from their personal networks in encouragement of their effort to give up alcohol and encourage beneficial lifestyle changes.

Ocsober raised $500,000 in 2010 – its funding goal for 2012 is $750,000 and it has reached 415,998 just half way though the month-long campaign.

Life Education, the beneficiary of the Ocsober campaign, spent $12.4 million with 83%, or $16.90, used for direct program delivery costs. Funding from Ocsober supports Life Education’s other sources of funding that include parents and caregivers of students participating in Life Education’s programs, representing 40% of their revenue, with the Australian government contributing 25% of the organization’s yearly budget.

Life Education was started in 1979 by Ted Noffs, an Australian Humanitarian, who wanted to create a drug education program that focused on school-age children to attach the problem of drug abuse, including alcohol, before it became a significant personal, family, and social problem. Ted Noffs passed away in 1995, yet supporters say the Life Education program continues to provide significant benefits to students and their families.

Find out more about Ocsober at http://www.ocsober.com.au and find out more about Life Education at http://www.lifeeducation.org.au