Koala Kids Foundation’s annual cocktail party at ULR Jaguar Land Rover celebrated the contribution of volunteers, program partners, hospital colleagues, major donors, student ambassadors, corporate partners and friends with more than 170 people in attendance. The event marks the International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day (15 February) each year and draws a cross section of supporters who share Koala Kids vision, to touch every child and young person undergoing cancer treatment in Victoria.

Koala Kids program director, Mandy Mandie, announced the 2019 volunteers of the year – joint recipients, Vanessa Cohen and Liz Anderson.

Both volunteers joined Koala Kids when it was a group of six people auspiced by Koala Foundation, and then Children’s Cancer Foundation. When the Foundation was formed in 2015, Vanessa and Liz became members of Board advisory group, co-managed the young adults’ committees’ Orange Gala event and volunteer often on weekdays, while working full time executive positions.

Mandy told the guests, ”They are both driven, passionate, professional and 100% committed to our cause. Neither Ness nor Liz suffer fools easily and they always speak their mind.    They believe happy helps, are wonderful volunteers and we are particularly proud to present them with this coveted award.”

Mandy acknowledged the long standing support of Foundation partner Korjo for providing our head office and warehouse facilities in Hawthorn, and expressed warms thanks to ULR Jaguar Land Rover for hosting the event in its fabulous spacious Malvern showroom, Treat Catering for delicious sandwiches and ham, Calendar Cheese Co, Frog Hollow Estate, Slide Productions, Tiger Corp, Purpose Group and the hard working events committee who bought the event together with the help of Koala Kids administrative assistant Jess Bucci.

See photos taken by Fiona Byrne, Herald Sun and Dan Lawson, Prop & Pose Co. HERE.