GIVING is one of the strongest symbols of Christmas, but research suggests a majority of Australians don't think too much about donating to those less

PRESS RELEASE
According to the Westpac Community Markets Give Differently survey, just 21 per cent of respondents say Christmas is a time when they most think about making donations to charities.
While 92 per cent of people say they have donated to a charity in the past 12 months, only 33 per cent say it was during the holiday period.
More than half of all the donations were in reaction to national disasters such as last summer's Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
Sole parent of 3, Sam Beau Patrick from the Gold Coast would like to change these statistics and encourage others to follow suit. Sam has written 2 books in 2009 and is donating part proceeds of the sales to her 2 favorite charities: Paradise Kids and Bravehearts.
“. . I want to help as many people as possible but being a sole parent means I have to be smart about how and where I divide my time and energy. Writing the books and then donating part of the sales to charity is a great win-win for the charities, the people purchasing the books and I know I am helping people who have a genuine need…” Sam said.
Sam organised for 2500 boxes of clothes (boxed, washed and sorted) to be shipped to the Victorian Bush Fire Survivors and FNQ flood survivors in February this year, so donating to charity is strong in her heart and passions.
Sam would like to see other businesses follow her lead and donate part of the sales profits back to charity. With 92% of Australians donating to charity this year (and over 50% being the Bush Fire Appeal), Sam would like to see the generosity and act of giving continue.
Sam’s 2 books can be purchases on line from www.byebyebridget.com.
Her books are: HOT TIPS for the BUSINESS TRAVELLER
And BEAUTY AND THE BEAST WITHIN