OTF Melbourne Bushfire Relief
Hey Orange Nation!
This fund has been created by our OTF team in Melbourne, Australia to unite our global Orangetheory network in lending a helping hand to give aid and relief in the fires currently burning and devastating our beautiful country and wildlife. Our team here in Melbourne are diverse and come from all around the world, through this we have been able to bring our incredible Orangetheory network together for this cause.
Fire season typically begins in Australia in December, though some of these current fires have been burning since September. Our country is experiencing one of the worst fire seasons recorded and the biggest evacuation movement in Australia's history. So far, at least 23 people have been killed, 2,000 homes have been lost, and an unfathomable number of animals have died nearing 1 Billion. A record breaking 4.9 million hectares of land have burned in this fire season alone with no signs of numbers slowing down.
We have created this page from a great amount of interest in supporting our efforts specifically for those in the United States and Australia (donations can be accepted from any country however) wanting to donate directly to help. The money donated here will be distributed equally to wonderful organizations giving financial support and aid to those in the front line of the fires.
https://www.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal
The Victorian Government has partnered with Bendigo Bank and The Salvation Army to establish the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. 100% of donated funds will go directly to communities in need.
CFA Victoria
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) has a Volunteer Welfare Fund and a Natural Disaster Fund which makes small grants on a needs basis to Country Fire Authority volunteers, long serving former volunteers and their families, who are experiencing significant financial hardship or directly affected by natural disasters. The grants are designed to alleviate stresses that can affect the individual’s ability to continue as a volunteer.
https://www.zoo.org.au/fire-fund/
Zoos Victoria
Every donation will fund:
Emergency veterinary care
Scientific intervention (such as exploring supplementary feeding for the animals who have survived, whose habitats have been destroyed by the bushfires)
As a not-for-profit organisation, all money raised will be used in consultation with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to ensure it is most effectively assisting injured wildlife and their habitat.
https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate
Australian Red Cross
As bushfires affect communities across Australia on an unprecedented scale, Red Cross is right there, providing practical, local support where it's needed to tens of thousands of people during and after the emergencies.
https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/donate/donate-to-wildlife-victoria
Wildlife Victoria
Donations to our Victorian bushfire appeal will be distributed to wildlife shelters and carers to help rebuild enclosures and equipment that they have lost in the fires so that they can continue their lifesaving work, and support those that are struggling to cope with the enormous number of animals that will need care in the coming weeks and months.
A HUGE thank you from our team here in Melbourne for your support and ways of giving from across the world, any amount is greatly appreciated and does not go unnoticed. To those studios and members participating in donation based classes on Australia Day, we love you and keep bleeding Orange!
Our Regional Sales and Operations Manager will be transferring these donations from a personal USA account, directly through Transferwise to an AUS personal account (as this was the easiest way to move funds), from there distributing to the named foundations separately. Keep updated on specific donations made on our social media accounts.
