Bendigo for Homeless Youth campaigner Luke Owens has a simple mission – find $30,000 of donations in 10 days.
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Mr Owens deferred his university course this year to dedicate himself full-time to raising money to eliminate youth homelessness in Bendigo.
The campaign has raised $70,000, but is still shy of its “$100,000 by December 31” target.
Mr Owens’ efforts have attracted strong philanthropic interest and reaching the $100,000 target could lead to greater financial support and big-picture projects.
The Rotary Club of Bendigo will support the campaign through its Carols by Candlelight event in Rosalind Park tomorrow night.
Bendigo bowls clubs will also raise funds this weekend.
The campaign has also caught the attention of district schools. Eppalock Primary School students yesterday donated $409.70 to the cause, which was raised by selling homemade gingerbread and sherbet.
Sisters Jessica and Nicola Gallagher and Nikiah Ratcliffe made the goods after being inspired by a talk Mr Owens made at the school three weeks ago.
Nicola, 9, said the students took the message on board.
“We did this for the homeless. We wanted to do something to help,” she said.
“You don’t think about homelessness often. We didn’t know about it until Luke spoke to us.”
Mr Owens is desperate to reach the $100,000 target by year’s end.
He will perform Bendigo for Homeless Youth’s charity single, Home, along with other local musicians during the carols event at Rosalind Park tomorrow night.
“We have 10 days left, so we’re going to try our hardest,” Luke said.
“If everyone listens to the message and takes action we’ll get there.
“From the outside it looks impossible, but Bendigo is the kind of community that will step up.”
Mr Owens pleaded with the community to dig deep.
“If there was ever a time we needed the community, it is now.”
Mr Owens said people wanting to donate should visit bendigoforhomelessyouth.com for more information.
Bendigo Advertiser gets behind Luke
The Bendigo Advertiser has answered a call for businesses to get behind the Bendigo For Homeless Youth fund-raising campaign by offering a full-page advertisement in a silent auction.
Bendigo Advertiser general manager Margot Falconer said the newspaper was happy to help such a worthy cause.
“As a long-term supporter of Horizon House, we are delighted to support Luke Owens in his endeavours to raise much needed funds for the homeless youth in our region,’’ she said.
Ms Falconer said the full-page colour advertisement was valued at more than $4000 and available to the highest bidder.
‘’We will guarantee a Saturday edition should the winning bid top $1000,’’ she said.
Businesses wanting to secure the full-page advertisement should email a bid to editor@bendigoadvertiser.com.au by close of business on Friday, December 28.
Bendigo Community Telco chief executive Philip Lazenby praised the Bendigo Advertiser for supporting the Bendigo For Homeless Youth fund-raising campaign.
He offered a bid of $1000 for the full-page advertisement and called on all businesses to look at how they could help the charity reach its target of $100,000 by New Year’s Eve.
“If every business put $100 in – whatever you can give – it would not be much to get them across the line,’’ he said.
Mr Lazenby said he was inspired when he heard Luke Owens was going to defer university for a year to raise money for homeless youth.
“There’s been a big committee behind him and a heck of a lot of people have put a lot of money in, but they’re in the home stretch,” he said.
Mr Lazenby said the fund-raising effort was put into perspective when you consider the present total would be up there with the most money raised in the city for a single campaign.