Wesfarmers tops 2019 GivingLarge Report

The major funder of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases based at the Telethon Kids Institute has been recognised as Australia’s most generous giver.

Wesfarmers topped the list as the largest giver of contributions from pre-tax profits in this year’s GivingLarge Report, which ranks organisations based on their investment in philanthropic efforts.

The Western Australian company prides itself on building on strengths in the local community and supporting partnerships in medical research, educational initiatives, community programs and the Wesfarmers Arts program.

In 2014, Telethon Kids Institute was able to establish Australia’s newest centre for children’s infectious diseases research, thanks to a $5 million foundation grant from Wesfarmers.

Director of the Telethon Kids Institute, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, said it was impossible to put a price tag on the true value of Wesfarmers’ support.

“Having a research centre solely focused on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in children and adolescents has led to major developments that have a huge impact not just in Western Australia, but throughout the country and across the globe,” Professor Carapetis said.

“The support from Wesfarmers has led to international collaborative opportunities across the full spectrum of infectious disease research, including clinical trials to prevent and treat ear infections, development of a world-first Strep A vaccine designed to eliminate rheumatic heart disease, plus ongoing studies and evaluation of new vaccines for pneumococcal disease, whooping cough and meningococcal disease.”

An additional $6 million gift from Wesfarmers in 2017 extends their commitment to this important work through 2021.

“Australia is right to applaud Wesfarmers on their forward-thinking and generous investment in the future of children’s health,” Professor Carapetis said.  

“In addition to ensuring the Wesfarmers Centre continues to grow as a global centre of infectious disease research, their ongoing support of Australia’s postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers within a world-class research environment guarantees that the next generation of our country’s child health researchers have the optimal start to their careers.”

Click here for more information about the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccine and Infectious Diseases.