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Oasis supporter offers kids a fighting chance

19 October 2015
Oasis supporter offers kids a fighting chance

Bruce Fink is deeply committed to supporting The Salvation Army's Oasis Youth Support Network.


 

“I feel we are privileged to live in this country and believe we all need to contribute to make things better for the next generation and the generations to come.”

– Bruce Fink 

It was the birth of his three children (now aged 16 to 22) that businessman and philanthropist Bruce Fink says motivated he and wife Lauren to “further reassess their priorities” and ramp up their already significant commitment to helping young people (and others) in need. 

Bruce is associated with a range of highly successful media companies – including the Executive Channel Network and Media i – and says his philanthropic passions are education and health. 

He believes that supporting young people in accessing quality education – and also providing health care and funding for medical research – is essential to building a stronger community. 

As a deeply committed benefactor of The Salvation Army’s Oasis (Sydney) Youth Support Network Education Centre (which supports young homeless and highly disadvantaged people while they complete their Higher School Certificate), Bruce’s contribution helps Oasis provide essential textbooks, technology and stationery to students completing the curriculum. 

Bruce was introduced to The Salvation Army’s Oasis about five years ago and says: “I really fell in love with the place. Many of the kids come from unbelievably difficult backgrounds and it is just extraordinary how transformative the experience of Oasis has been to them. It gives them a real chance at a satisfying and meaningful future. The work that the staff does in building trust and a loving environment, as well as nurturing these young people, is quite extraordinary!” 

Bruce also sits on the board of a number of health and education facilities, including the Children’s Medical Research Institute (Jeans for Genes) and is a major donor to a number of causes including the building of the Lauren and Bruce Fink Pediatric Emergency Theatre at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. 

Bruce says that while the significant motivating factor in his charity work is simply giving to others in need, he also believes it is essential to show his children that “life is about giving and not just taking”. 

“And I think the best way to teach your own children,” he says, “is showing them, by way of your own example.” 

Comments

  1. Helping people,specially the young people with difficult background is a wonderful act and a humanitarian responsibility. The people who are doing that should be encouraged.

  2. Helping people,specially the young people with difficult background is a wonderful act and a humanitarian responsibility. The people who are doing that should be encouraged.

  3. Education is the best way to help adult or youth, it gives them pride and a sense of accomplishment. When growing up my parents always used to say three things to me. The first one being “education, education, education”. They believed that having knowledge was the only way to get ahead in this world. The second was “What did you learn today?” and we had to say at least one thing we learned either in school or out, sometimes that’s not as easy as it sounds. The third and final was “You don’t know how easy you have it, there are some kids out there who haven’t eaten in days”. This always impacted on me, especially since I spent some time living on the streets as a teenager, yes, I did go off the rails in my youth.
    I truly believe that the fundamental cause of youth in trouble is caused by either drugs, domestic violence or neglect. Having kindness and compassion bought into their life could change their way of thinking which in turn could transform their lives into a positive future.

  4. It really touched my heart and helping others is really a good deed for anyone. This inspiring story must encourage everyone.

  5. It really touched my heart and helping others is really a good deed for anyone. This inspiring story must encourage everyone.

  6. Well done on helping disadvantaged children here in Australia! Kudos and of course thank god for the salvos.

  7. Really good work by Bruce Fink in Supporting the OASIS initiative of SALVOS. Wish more people join the initiatives of the Salvation Army. They really help the people in need.

  8. The Salvation Army does some terrific work. Disadvantaged young people need all the assistance they can get to fit in at school and to succeed. Often disadvantaged young people drop out of school for a number of reasons. The OASIS program is great encouragement for them to stay in school as they have a positive role model. Uniforms and textbooks can be a costly exercise. I am glad someone is motivated enough to help people succeed at school.

  9. Great heartwarming story - I wish there were more people in the world like Bruce who can make a positive difference to those in need.

  10. Well done to Bruce and his family for giving so much back to this community- Especially to young and vulnerable people to access education.

  11. Excellent article. Noble cause. Every child deserve a chance to have a wonderful education. Well done.

  12. Great job Bruce. The world need more peoples like you. Hats Off...

  13. It is nice to know, there are good people in this world. Bruce Fink is one of them and cares for others. Especially our young ones should be cared for more, because they are the ones we can form and educate. They can make it better (or worse) than we did and it is up to use to influence them the right way.

  14. The Salvation Army does some great work. This was very good to read. Such a Noble cause.

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

The Salvation Army is committed to ensuring the provision of safe and inclusive environments for children, young people and vulnerable people where they feel respected, safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation.