Commonwealth Bank will launch a month of fundraising this Friday to support the Clown Doctors in their tireless work to keep a smile on the face of sick kids.
This Smile Day, Friday April 7, Commbank’s corporate offices and branches across the country will kick off fundraising to keep the Clown Doctors prescribing a dose of smiles and laughter.
Smile Day is the national day of fundraising for the Clown Doctors that helps them to continue providing much needed services to children in hospital.
This will be the 19th year Commbank has been involved in fundraising for the Clown Doctors.
Last year Commbank raised $156,000 throughout the month of April from its branches, staff members and corporate offices.
Commbank General Manager Corporate Responsibility Kylie Macfarlane said, “The Clown Doctors is a cause that our staff are very passionate about.
“We’re proud to be supporting the Clown Doctors to continue their work helping sick children who are facing a frightening and unfamiliar experience in hospital.
“They provide an invaluable service to sick children and their families by offering a reprieve from the stresses of hospitals with laughter and a big red nose,” she said.
Clown Doctors is the core program of The Humour Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that provides medical clowns to sick kids in hospital, treating them with a different kind of medicine.
Melinda Farrell CEO of the Clown Doctors said, “Imagine being a sick kid in hospital, in need of a friend to play, laugh and smile with, that’s the magic of Clown Doctors.
“Clown Doctors create value in hospital by helping children reduce emotional stress associated with pain or discomfort during medical procedures, and increasing their ability to develop effective coping strategies.
“Thank you to CommBank and all of their customers for supporting us in raising much needed funds to keep Clown Doctors where they are needed most.”
Donations to the Clown Doctors can be made at any CommBank Bank branch throughout April or online at commbank.com.au/clowndoctors.