The Universal Charitable Fund was founded by Star Pharmacy Group’s directors Stan & Peter along with two other local businessmen as a simple and cost effective way to provide practical support and encouragement to local charities doing a terrific job in helping people in need both in South Australia and overseas.

The focus is awarding grants to those small charities where “local heroes” do a great job and where small grants have a strong multiplier effect thanks to the input of volunteers. Typically the grants currently range between $500 and $2,000. The recipients must be registered charities with tax deductible status and our key interest areas are education, health, building sustainable self-sufficient communities, and child protection.

Please check out some recent projects:

Joyland Orphanage

In late 2012, Star Pharmacy Group Directors Stan & Peter visited the Joyland Orphanage near Silay City in the Philippines.

On their return, Stan & Peter partnered with the Universal Charitable Fund to create a special project and asked local business people to partner and raised $25,000 for:

purchasing a new (used) vehicle to transport the children
upgrading water system at the orphanage
building an eggery to provide income

Mission for African Mothers (MAM)

The Universal Charitable Fund gave Mission for African Mothers (MAM) a grant of $2,000 to help single expectant mothers in Uganda by:

training 10 peer educators/counsellors
purchasing 10 health boxes to used to inform youth with health information on reproductive health
printing reproductive health and family planning manuals
organizing a youth reproductive and sexual health camp
running a short radio radio dramas using the local language on youth reproductive health & sexuality

John Fawcett Foundation

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The Universal Charitable Fund gave the John Fawcett Foundation a grant of $2,000 to sponsor a Mobile Eye Health Care Clinic in Bali over a two-day period in May 2014 with the following results:

screened 426 poor Balinese men, women & children in one village
provided 294 pairs of eye glasses and 200 bottles of eye medicines
performed 10 sight-restoring cataract surgeries, free of charge

Hopes & Dreams

The Universal Charitable Fund gave Hopes & Dreams – International, a grant of $2,000 to assist in the rural parts of Africa & India:

bringing clean & safe water
assist the poor by providing economic empowerment opportunities via micro-economic loans

"Change for Change" Money Boxes

All pharmacies under Star Pharmacy Group have a money box near the register for customers to drop in their change.

Thanks to the staff and the generous customers, this initiative has raised $4,229 in the 2014 calendar year.

Gratitude Springs Water

Star Pharmacy Group sells Gratitude Springs charity water in their member pharmacies with 50 cents from every bottle being donated to the Universal Charitable Fund.

In the 2014 calendar year, this initiative raised $5,040

Other Star Pharmacy Charitable Donations

Starlight Children's Foundation

The Starlight Children’s Foundation know that happiness matters to sick kids facing the pain, fear and stress of serious illness.

That’s why for over 30 years they have worked in partnership with health professionals to bring the fun, joy and laughter that helps sick kids be kids.

Star Pharmacy recently raised over $7,000 for the Children’s Charity in December 2020 and we will continue to support this charity with funding drives.

Share the Dignity

Share the Dignity works to make a real, on the ground difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough. We distribute period products to those in need and work to end period poverty here in Australia. When someone is doing it tough, the last thing on their mind should be dealing with their period.

We assist those in need through collecting thousands of period products each year through our collection drives and campaigns and distribute them directly to charities across Australia.

Star Pharmacy has been a consistent supporter of Share the Dignity, collecting donations twice a year to help support women.

Philanthropy