The fight against cancer, higher education, early childhood initiatives, Indigenous Australians, and the battle to eliminate ‘modern slavery’ are among the recipients of a $400 million donation – the largest philanthropic donation ever made by a living Australian – announced by mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and his wife Nicola today.
In comments made at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra this morning, Mr Forrest, founder of Fortescue Metals Group with a fortune estimated by Forbes to be more than $5.5 billion, said he wanted to encourage more Australians to give, not just of their money but of their time, energy and other resources.
“It can be easy to give with your heart, because there is so much need, particularly in vulnerable communities,” he said. “The challenge is to give with your heart, mind and soul; to give cleverly so that maximum impact is achieved over the longer term, and to give wisely so that your own values are reflected.”
Mr Forrest said he and his wife Nicola founded their Minderoo Foundation “with the belief in the power of giving a hand up rather than a hand out”. “It is the only way that marginalised communities and vulnerable individuals can get ahead.”
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was at the event along with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as well as actors Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson, described the donation as a “game-changer”. “[I]t will change the lives of thousands of people here in and around the world,” he said.
