The Day family name in Adelaide is synonymous with generosity and good will, and Mark Day is no exception.
Mark is a founding member and enthusiastic supporter of Impact100 SA, bringing along guests each year to our Grants Award nights, to show them in person the impact of Impact and persuading them to join.
At last year’s Grants Night in October, Mark was very moved by the presentation by Nadia Bergineti, CEO of The Reily Foundation (and winner of one of our $100 000 high impact grants) and as a result of conversations with Nadia, was approached to be chair of the organisation. Mark says it was one of the easier decisions he has made in his career.
In a very short time, Mark has become a passionate supporter of The Reily Foundation and told us:
This is an extraordinary organisation doing wonderful work. The Department of Child Protection has a very important and difficult role to play in protecting children from a harmful family environment. In the 3-6 month period between a child taken into state care and them staying in state care until the age of 18 (which can be from birth) Reily works with parents in negotiating the maze of requirements and supports parents to make the necessary changes that will assure the state that the children can return to a loving and safe family. This involves advocacy, educating the parents on what they need to do to be a good parent and at times third party legal guidance. To date, not one child that has gone back to their family has subsequently been again taken back into state care.
As well all know, being generous is not just about giving money, but it is also about giving our time, talent, ties and testimony to support those who can benefit, just as Mark Day is doing.