POWER 100: Coast's 12 most powerful not-for-profits

The giving spirit of the Sunshine Coast community has remained unwavering, as evidenced by these powerful, prominent not-for-profits.

DEDICATED: Michelle Winser (C) is the CEO of Destiny Rescue and has just won a major international business management award. She and husband Craig and their children Emma Clark, Bailey Winser and Lauren Clark go into South-East Asia to rescue children from brothels. Picture: Patrick Woods

WHILE the region has changed dramatically over decades, the giving spirit of the Sunshine Coast community has remained unwavering.

As part of the Sunshine Coast Daily 2018 Power 100 we've taken a look at 12 of the most powerful and successful not-for-profits in the region.

University of the Sunshine Coast students Linnea Persson, Rory Sanders, Jackson Kellaway, Mark Turner and Sharni Wilson. Picture: Contributed

UNIVERSITY OF THE SUNSHINE COAST

ESTABLISHED in 1994 and opening in Sippy Downs in 1996, the university, a registered charity, has continued on a constant path of growth, with current expansion under way in Moreton Bay and possibly Gympie and Caboolture.

More than 120 programs are offered and the university, which survives largely on government grants and generous philanthropy, had delivered more than 22,000 graduates and had more than 16,500 students as of 2017.

Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe and Ausmar Homes business unit manager Josh Green. Picture: Patrick Woods

WISHLIST

SINCE 1998 Wishlist volunteers have worked tirelessly to raise money for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.

The not-for-profit has raised more than $18 million in total and pledges more than $1 million a year to research projects, medical equipment and support projects, staff scholarships and education funding.

The Wishlist Spring Carnival has become one of the most highly anticipated social events on the Coast calendar too and doubles as a major fundraiser.

Destiny Rescue CEO Michelle Winser with some of the child sex slaves rescued from a brothel by Destiny Rescue. Picture: Contributed

DESTINY RESCUE

THE Warana-based organisation founded by Tony Kirwan is committed to ending child sexual exploitation and slavery.

Posing as customers, Destiny Rescue operatives gain the trust of children before offering to take them to safety.

In early-July the Christian not-for-profit marked more than 3000 children saved after a raid on a home in the Philippines.

Sundale CEO Glenn Bunney

SUNDALE

NAMBOUR-based not-for-profit Sundale has been serving the elderly of the Sunshine Coast and beyond for five decades.

Retirement communities and specialised services, including in-home care and rehabilitation centres, have formed the foundations of the organisation.

The charity established its own Foundation with $1 million seed funding and the interest and proceeds will be funnelled back into the community.

IFYS clients are treated to a free lunch courtesy of the staff at Urban Deli Cafe. Picture: Melanie Keyte

INTEGRATED FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES (IFYS)

PROMINENT youth charity IFYS delivers specialist support and intervention programs for children, young people and families across Queensland.

The Maroochydore-based charity works with businesses, corporations, governments and other charities to deliver 25 separate accommodation, child protection, counselling and support services.

The charity has committed to ensuring administration of any donation doesn't exceed 20 per cent.

Compass Institute CEO David Dangerfield (back right) and Compass Connections Café employees Renee and Sophie. Picture: CONTRIBUTED

COMPASS INSTITUTE

AN AWARD-winning Coast-based charity, The Compass Institute started in 1992 providing alternative education programs to 7000 at-risk youth.

A shake-up followed in 2003 as the charity pursued its dream to deliver a program for people with disabilities, changing the philosophy from one of passive recreation to a pathway of lifelong learning, skills-based training and vocational opportunities.

Day for Daniel has continued to grow and is one of the pillars of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Picture: Jessica Bahr

DANIEL MORCOMBE FOUNDATION

FOUNDED in the most tragic of circumstances, Bruce and Denise Morcombe turned the heartache of losing their son Daniel, who was abducted and murdered in December, 2003, into initiatives to improve child safety around Australia.

The Morcombes have presented to thousands of schoolkids across Australia, as they work to protect other children.

Day for Daniel has become an annual event and gives the region, and supporters around the nation, time to reflect on Daniel's legacy and renew their efforts to improve child safety.

Mark Forbes of endED is set to build Australia's first residential treatment facility for eating disorders. Picture: John McCutcheon

ENDED

FOUNDED by Mark and Gail Forbes, a Buddina couple whose two daughters have battled eating disorders, the not-for-profit charity was established in a bid to help treat sufferers.

Having run support group meetings for their own home, momentum is gathering to build their dream facility, the endED Butterfly House in the Mooloolah Valley in a joint venture with the Butterfly Foundation.

More than 35 local companies have come on board to build the facility and the Federal Government has stumped up $1.5 million in funding and it's hoped the doors will open on the new facility by the end of 2019 or start of 2020.

Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast lifesaving coordinator Jacob Thomson and Alexandra Headland lifeguard Shane Bevan inspect new emergency beacons installed in March. Picture: Stuart Cumming

SURF LIFESAVING SUNSHINE COAST

CONSISTING of 14 surf clubs from Rainbow Beach to Redcliffe, the Sunshine Coast Branch of Surf Life Saving Queensland is a huge volunteer organisation.

Established in 1930, the Sunshine Coast Branch is the largest in Queensland and is made up of more than 12,000 members and almost 4000 Nippers.

In 2017-18 the Sunshine Coast Branch carried out more than 15,000 preventative actions, 409 rescues and notched up more than 150,000 volunteer patrol hours.

Former Bloomhill CEO Mervat Quirke (L) with current patron Raelene Boyle and volunteer manager Alex Bert. Picture: CONTRIBUTED

BLOOMHILL

BLOOMHILL Cancer Care is a Buderim-based charity regarded as a centre for excellence in integrated cancer care.

The charity remains dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people living with and beyond cancer.

Cancer nursing services and allied health teams are all offered through the Sunshine Coast charity.

92.7 Mix FM breakfast announcers Caroline Hutchinson and Mark Darin discover they have smashed their $600,000 fundraising goal for the Give Me 5 for Kids appeal. Picture: Amber Hooker

GIVE ME 5 FOR KIDS

A NATIONAL fundraiser supporting and raising funds for children's hospital wards for a quarter of a century, the Sunshine Coast efforts have been nothing short of incredible.

More than $5 million has been raised in almost 20 years on the Sunshine Coast, with more than $600,000 raised in a month this year.

The efforts on the Coast have been driven by MixFM personality Caroline Hutchinson and her co-host Mark Darin.

LifeFlight Foundation CEO Leanne Angel, Don Moffatt, Bill Freeman and LifeFlight Sunshine Coast director Rod Forrester at the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter presentation morning at Sunshine Coast Airport. Picture: Erle Levey

LIFEFLIGHT

RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopters have saved many lives on the Sunshine Coast.

In 2013 LifeFlight merged with the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service, which had operated in the region since 1979.

In 2017-18 LifeFlight Rescue helicopters completed 450 community-based missions carried out by Sunshine Coast aeromedical crews.