Philips Partners with Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia to Help ‘Little Lives Shine’

Philips Electronics Australia is delighted to announce its new community partnership with the Children’s Hospital Foundation Australia (CHFA).  Philips has committed to a multi-year arrangement to support the Foundation and its pledge to improve the treatment and care of sick Australian children by “Helping little lives shine.”

“We are thrilled to announce our new commitment to the Children’s Hospital Foundation Australia. Both organisations are dedicated to improving the healthcare of Australians, so it is a perfect fit.  This partnership will also mark an important change to the way Philips Australia supports its community partners as we introduce cause-related marketing as a way to raise public awareness and funds for the extremely important work of CHFA,” said Harry van Dyk, CEO and Vice-President Philips Electronics Australia.

CHFA is a national federation of five children’s hospital foundations including the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Queensland, Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Victoria, Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation South Australia and the Princess Margaret Hospital and Children Foundation in Western Australia.

Nikki Johnston, National Director of CHFA commented on the commitment saying “The new partnership between CHFA and Philips will enable our federation to take a major step forward in the work we can do in our children’s hospitals. As a company, Philips is a global leader and recognised for innovation.  We are confident that the Philips/CHFA partnership will also be recognised as a flagship in the way national and international corporations can benefit all of our children’s hospital partners through a single charity gateway. We are extremely appreciative of Philips’ commitment and support and know that it will directly translate into increased awareness and funds for our cause.”

Philips will introduce cause-related marketing across its Healthcare, Lighting and Consumer Lifestyle portfolios throughout 2008.  In-store displays, catalogues and online marketing campaigns will be utilised to raise consumer awareness throughout the specific campaign periods.  Philips will also work with its retail partners to ensure consumers are aware of the benefits of purchasing Philips products during the dedicated campaign time-frames.

CHFA funds raised by Philips and its customers will be channeled into paediatric research initiatives ranging from complex laboratory investigations to studies at the bedside, and include specific focus on:

• Burns - developing new treatments to speed a child’s healing, finding ways to stop disfiguring scars, and protecting the quality of life for little patients
• Cancer - laboratory and “hands on” cancer research to find new treatments and cures for kids with tumours, leukaemia and other forms of these life-threatening conditions
• Respiratory - research into asthma, cystic fibrosis and bronchiolitis to improve the quality of life and life expectancy for children
• Viruses - the “bug detectives” track down new ways to rapidly diagnose serious infectious diseases like meningococcal, RSV and whooping cough to save the lives of sick children
• Child advocacy and protection – pouring efforts into protecting children by developing ways to detect, prevent and help kids who suffer abuse or neglect
• Growth and nutrition – a broad range of studies encompassing the impact of nutrition on kids with cystic fibrosis, obesity, end stage liver disease and anorexia nervosa giving real hope.
• Pain Free Treatment – discovering new methods to help sick and injured children without the trauma of pain, especially for children who spend much of their young life in hospital.
  

To learn more about Children’s Hospital Foundation Australia, please visit: www.childrenshfa.com.au