FAQs
Who are The 500 Supporters' Group?
The 500 Supporters' Group refers to a "social group" of like-minded people, who meet for lunch twice a year and are committed to raising funds to assist the Edmund Rice Foundation with specific projects aimed at improving the standards of health and education in Africa.
Browse through this website to find out a bit more about us and what we are trying to achieve.
Can anyone become a "Supporter"?
We warmly welcome everyone to come along to our Lunches and join us in our mission to "make poverty history". All you need is a charitable heart and, of course, if you have a passing interest in AFL and/or Thoroughbred Racing you'll enjoy our lunches even more!
How do I become a Supporter, and what does it "cost"?
It doesn't "cost" anything to become a "supporter". However, we do encourage everyone to make a financial sacrifice - just once a year - to our chosen charity, which is the "Christian Brothers' Overseas Aid Fund". How much you donate is up to you - every dollar is important to those who have nothing, however, the majority of our Supporters donate $500 per annum ($250 per lunch) - hence the name "500" Supporters' Group! To download a "donation form", please click here.
Where and when are the lunches held, and how much does it cost to attend the Lunch ?
We hold two sporting themed lunches each year - an AFL Lunch in May and a Racing Lunch, which is held the week before the Melbourne Cup - in the Olympic Room, which is located in the Members' Stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ("MCG").
Our Lunches are held from Noon-2:00 p.m. and cost $65 per head for a two-course meal, beer, wine and soft drinks. And, of course, you get to share a laugh with some of the most prominent names from Australian sport.
Is any of the money I pay for the Lunch used to help the people in Africa?
The $65 you pay to attend the lunch is the "cost price" we are charged for room hire, catering, security and audio-visual equipment, so none of the money received from lunch payments can be sent to Africa.
Actually, as you can imagine, the unit cost for a lunch in a fine dining room at one of the world's most famous sporting arenas is normally well in excess of $65 per head, however, we are extremely grateful that "Epicure" (the catering firm) is willing to offer us this "discounted rate", to assist our charitable cause.
Most other fund raising groups charge over $100 for Lunch - why doesn't your Group charge more for a Lunch and direct the profits to Africa?
When we formed the 500 Supporters' Group we decided we wanted to get as many people as possible to come along to our Lunches to raise awareness for the plight of the "forgotten people in Africa" and the practical work being done by the Edmund Rice Foundation to raise health and education standards for people living in these impoverished regions.
We do not want the "cost of the Lunch" to be an issue for anyone and, in turn, we hope those attending will donate - as much as their circumstances permit - to help the people who need it the most.
What happens after I become a Supporter - are there any commitments or obligations?
There are absolutely no ongoing obligations or commitments.
We do not hold raffles or auctions at the lunch - all we ask is for attendees to consider making just one donation each year to assist some of the poorest people in the world.
What happens at your 500 Supporters' Group Lunches?
Our lunches have two aspects to them:
(a) a serious aspect, where we focus on the difficulties facing some of the most impoverished people in African and how we can help by improving the standards of health and education in their communities.
(b) a fun aspect, where major personalities from Australian Rules Football and Thoroughbred Racing share stories with us.
The lunches are offered "at cost" in the hope that those attending will channel every "spare dollar" they have to the people who need it the most in Africa.
There are no auctions, raffles, etc. at the Lunch - just an appeal to everyone to make one annual donation to our chosen charity.
To which charity do you ask your Supporters to donate?
We have aligned ourselves to the registered charity - "The Christian Brothers' Overseas Aid Fund" - and all donations must be directed to the Fund only.
The 500 Supporters' Group is NOT a charitable organisation. We are merely a social group, who organise two sporting lunches each year to assist the Edmund Rice Foundation with its fund raising efforts.
Representatives from the Edmund Rice Foundation are present at our lunches to provide further information, collect donations and provide tax receipts.
Why did you choose this charity?
When our Group was formed in 2001, the "foundation supporters" were drawn largely from the network of CBC Old Boys (i.e. former Christian Brothers' College students) who wanted to support the Christian Brothers, who had so selflessly given us all our start in life.
As our Group has expanded, we are thrilled to have new friends - representing the diversity of Australian society - join us and share our passion for helping those in need.
Is my donation "tax deductible"?
Yes. The "Christian Brothers' Overseas Aid Fund" is a "registered charity" with the Australian Tax Office and every dollar you donate to this charity will receive tax deductible status.
Who receives my money when I make a donation?
Donations to the Christian Brothers' Overseas Aid Fund - through the 500 Supporters' Group - are sent directly for the development of the people who need it the most in Africa.
The Brothers deal directly with local communities in Africa, which helps reduce bureaucratic red tape and inefficiences.
What percentage of my donation is sent as development money, and what percentage is used to cover "administration expenses"?
100% of our Supporters' donations to the Christian Brothers' Overseas Aid Fund is used as aid money to help the people in Africa.
Not one cent is used on "administrative costs" since we are extremely fortunate to have a very generous committee member, who willingly covers all the costs associated with running our Group and organising the Lunches.
If you have any other questions please contact us with your query.