"An old man was walking on the beach one morning after a storm.
In the distance, he could see someone moving like a dancer.
As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman picking up starfish and gently throwing them into the ocean.
"Young lady, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" he said.
"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die," she said.
"But young lady, do you not realise there are many miles of beach and thousands of starfish?
"You cannot possibly make a difference," he said.
The young woman listened politely, then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea.
"It made a difference for that one!" ( from Loren Eiseley)
Sponsorship has the potential to make a significant difference to individuals and a lasting difference to how a sponsor is perceived. It can create a bright future; tap into unexplored partnership opportunities and develop additional assets with economic, social, cultural and compassionate value.
The idea is to 'marry heart and smart' – the key drivers of purchase and performance to power winning partnerships.
As a wonderful example of 'making a difference or 'Heart and Smart', the Caloundra Community Bank® Branch of Bendigo Bank has been a committed sponsor of Knitted Knockers.
The uplifting concept involves a worldwide network of volunteers, who have hand-knitted thousands and thousands of cotton breast prosthesis for women, who have undergone mastectomies.
Knitted Knockers, kicked off in the United States in 2007. It has since been adopted by craft enthusiasts across Australia, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The volunteers who produce Knitted Knockers bring a smile to women at a low point in their lives – both inspirational and compassionate.
The support from organisations like Caloundra Community Bank® Branch enables local Knitted Knockers groups to produce and distribute promotional material in medical centres and clinics. Sponsorship also helps to fund the purchase of 100% cotton yarn from Bendigo Woollen Mills.
The Knitted Knockers prosthesis are made of 100 per cent cotton, which enables women recovering from surgery to insert them immediately after their procedure. They are soft, comfortable and beautiful.
When placed inside a regular bra, they take the shape and feel of a real breast, which boosts the wearers' self-esteem and confidence. With a knitted breast, you can have a different colour for every day of the week, in sizes from A to G and in a variety of colours.
For women on a tight budget, the cost of a silicone prosthetic breast can be prohibitive, whereas Knitted Knockers are free.
With ongoing support from sponsors, Knitted Knockers will continue to give women a giggle when they need it most while the sponsor has the satisfaction of knowing they've made a difference.
