I4Give Foundation

Last updated

i4Give Foundation
FormationDecember 2020
FounderDaniel & Leila Abdallah
Area served
Australia
Website www.i4give.com

The I4Give Foundation (Stylised "i4Give Foundation") is an Australian non-profit organisation [1] which aims to increase forgiveness amongst communities. [2] The foundation is behind the i4Give day on the 1st of February, and the i4Give week which begins on the 1st of February and ends on the 7th. It is a large adovacte towards forgiveness in Australia, largely inspired by the Maronite Catholic belief of forgiveness. [3] [4]

Contents

Background

On the 1st of February 2020, three of Daniel and Leila's Abdallah's children walked with their four other relatives down Bettington Road, Oatlands, to get ice cream. [5] [6] However, while walking, a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol struck the seven children, the parents' three children and their cousin, passing away. [7] The three other children were hospitalised, two recovering afterwards, one receiving permanent brain damage. The driver was charged with 20 offences including four counts each of manslaughter, dangerous driving occasioning death, and driving with a high-range blood alcohol reading and driving through a red light. [8] He later had his 28-year sentence reduced to 20 years, 15 of those years without parole. [9] Three days after the deaths, Leila Abdallah publicly forgave the driver, stating "Right now I can't hate him [...] I think in my heart to forgive him, but I want the court to be fair. It's all about fairness. I'm not going to hate him, because that's not who we are." [10] She later confirmed her forgiveness, stating "we have forgiven him so we are able to grieve peacefully". [11] The crash occurred at the Oatlands Golf Course perimeter, however after fighting for a memorial to be placed 200 meters from the site of the crash, it was denied. Local Member of Parliament Geoff Lee, Prime Minister (at the time) Scott Morrison, and Oppositions Leader Chris Minns criticised the move, Lee calling it "cold hearted", and Morrison stating that the move was "distressing", and that he was talking to Australian Premier Dominic Perrottet about the denial. Daniel Abdallah labeled the move "disappointing". [12] The family later had another child named Selina, a mix of the two daughters names that died in the incident, Sienna and Angelina. [13]

In December 2020, the i4Give foundation was founded, along with i4Give day and i4Give week, held for the first time on the 1st of February 2021. [14] [15] [16] [17] From June 2021, the "Four Angels" law was enforced in New South Wales, inspired by the death of the four children. The law gives a harsher penalty to drivers found to have a combination of illegal drugs and alcohol in their system. [18] Leila Abdallah was named mother of the year in May 2021. [17] [19] In June 2022, the Abdallah family was invited to attend the World Meeting of Families 2022 in Rome. [20] The family became good friends with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. [21] After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited Daniel Abdallah to her funeral in September 2022, along with 10 other Australians for "extraordinary contributions to their communities", citing his founding of the i4Give Foundation and its influence within Australian communities. [22]

A three year annual grant of AUD $65,000 was contributed to the i4Give Foundation by City of Parramatta in 2023. [23]

i4Give Day

i4Give day is a reoccurring date hosted annually on the 1st of February. The date of the accident was chosen as the date for i4Give intentionally, in order to be remember the tragedy as a day of forgiveness rather than sadness. Its aim is to spread the message of forgiveness throughout Australia. [15] [24] [25] [26]

The New South Wales Government, former Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison and current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have both expressed their encouragement of the day, [22] Morrison choosing to publicly forgiving Barnaby Joyce at an i4Give event held within The Kings School in 2022. [27]

A temporary banner outside The King's School, Parramatta displaying their support for the i4Give Foundation in February 2023. TKS supports i4Give.jpg
A temporary banner outside The King's School, Parramatta displaying their support for the i4Give Foundation in February 2023.

i4Give Events

i4Give Week

The i4Give foundation also created a week long event named "i4Give week", which lasts from the 1st of February to the 7th of February annually, with numerous actives held throughout.

i4Give Sunday

"i4Give Sunday" was also created, held on the Sunday within the first week of February, which encourages churches across Australia to "unite in a shared embrace of the Christ centred approach to forgiveness". [2] The Kings School's "Kings Community Church" partnered with the foundation for a chapel service in 2022, which was live-streamed on YouTube. [28] The service was also held in 2023, with Headmaster Tony George making a speech. [29]

i4Give Festival

The i4Give foundation runs a Gala Event on i4Give day every year, the first two being postponed due to covid. On the 4th of February 2023, the first free i4Give festival was held in Prince Alfred Park. [30] The park was chosen as Leila Abdallah used to take her children to the park before the crash. [13] Its aim was to encourage young people to start forgiving at a young age. [31] Anthony Albanese held a speech at the event, [32] [33] and multiple members and former members of parliament attended, including Scott Morrison, Andrew Charlton, Dominic Perrottet, Chris Minns, and Donna Davis. Many members of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Australian Rugby League team were also in attendance, who had previously supported the i4Give Cup in 2022. The father of the relative that died in the crash, Bob Sakr, also attended. [13]

i4Give Cup

The i4Give Cup is an event held by the i4Give foundation. It is a joint initiative between the Australian Rugby League team Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and City of Parramatta, in order to support the family and their decision to forgive. It was launched the Tuesday 7th of June 2022 at Accor Stadium by Bulldog's captain Josh Jackson and Clint Githerson. The event was attended by the Bulldog's Chief-Executive Aaron Warburton, and former players Tim Mannah, Terry Lamb and Hazem El Masri. The match was held between the Parramatta Eels and the Bulldogs' on the 13th of June 2022, the i4Give cup presented by Daniel Abdullah to the winning team (the Bulldogs). [34] [35] [36] It was held for a second time in 2023, on Monday the 12th of June at Accor Stadium, in which the Parramatta Eels won 34-12 against the Bulldogs. [37] [38]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stadium Australia</span> Multi-purpose stadium in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Stadium Australia is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium, which in Australia is sometimes referred to as Sydney Olympic Stadium, Homebush Stadium or simply the Olympic Stadium, was completed in March 1999 at a cost of A$690 million to host the 2000 Summer Olympics. The Stadium was leased by a private company, the Stadium Australia Group, until the Stadium was sold back to the NSW Government on 1 June 2016 after NSW Premier Michael Baird announced the Stadium was to be redeveloped as a world-class rectangular stadium. The Stadium is owned by Venues NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs</span> Australian rugby league club

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the NRL Telstra Premiership, as well as competitions facilitated by the New South Wales Rugby League, including the Canterbury Cup NSW, the Jersey Flegg Cup, Harvey Norman Women's Premiership, Tarsha Gale Cup, S. G. Ball Cup and the Harold Matthews Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Albanese</span> Prime Minister of Australia since 2022

Anthony Norman Albanese is an Australian politician serving as the 31st and current prime minister of Australia since 2022. He has been leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 2019 and the member of parliament (MP) for Grayndler since 1996. Albanese previously served as the 15th deputy prime minister under the second Kevin Rudd government in 2013, and held various other ministerial positions in the governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard from 2007 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmore Sports Ground</span> Football field in Belmore, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Belmore Sports Ground, formerly known as Belmore Oval, is a multi-purpose stadium in Belmore, New South Wales, Australia. The park covers 22 acres (89,000 m2) and from 1951 has contained the Belmore Bowling Recreation Club green. It is close to Belmore railway station.

The 1984 New South Wales Rugby League season was the 77th season of competition between the top professional rugby league football clubs within New South Wales. With the departure from the first grade competition of Sydney foundation club the Newtown Jets at the close of the previous season, 1984 saw thirteen teams compete for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta clubs. NSWRL teams also competed for the 1984 National Panasonic Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Morrison</span> Prime Minister of Australia from 2018 to 2022

Scott John Morrison is an Australian politician who served as the 30th prime minister of Australia from 2018 to 2022, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. He is currently the member of parliament (MP) for the New South Wales seat of Cook, a position he has held since 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamal Idris</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Jamal Dasuki Idrispronunciation is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. Idris was a junior athletics record holder and played in representative teams such as: Country, the indigenous nrl all stars New South Wales and Australia. A centre, he previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He has also represented the Indigenous All Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Wright (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Jonathan Wright is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who most recently played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He primarily played wing and centre.

The 2011 NRL season consisted of 26 weekly regular season rounds, which began on 11 March and ended on 4 September, followed by four weeks of the finals series culminating in the grand final on 2 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Lafai</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Timoteo Lafai is a Samoan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League and Samoa at international level..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcelo Montoya</span> Fiji international rugby league footballer

Marcelo Eduardo Montoya Jr is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Fiji at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braidon Burns</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Braidon Burns is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and winger for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. He is the nephew of Canterbury premiership winner, Rod Silva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Australian federal election</span> Election for the 47th Parliament of Australia

The 2022 Australian federal election was held on Saturday 21 May 2022 to elect members of the 47th Parliament of Australia. The incumbent Liberal/National Coalition government, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, sought to win a fourth consecutive term in office but was defeated by the opposition Labor Party, led by Anthony Albanese. Up for election were all 151 seats in the lower house, the House of Representatives, as well as 40 of the 76 seats in the upper house, the Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Allan</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Corey Allan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, fullback and centre for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynne Anderson (sports administrator)</span> Australian sport administrator

Lynne Anderson is an Australian sport administrator. She has been the Chief Executive Officer of Paralympics Australia and Chair of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Averillo</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Jake Averillo is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL).

The following is a list of events including expected and scheduled events for the year 2022 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 NRL Grand Final</span> NRL Grand Final

The 2022 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2022 National Rugby League season in Australia. It was contested between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels on Sunday the 2nd of October at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Penrith, who were both the defending premiers and minor premiers, won the match 28–12 to claim their fourth premiership title, and their first back-to-back premierships in the club's 56-year history. Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for being judged as the man of the match.

Paul Alamoti is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has also represented New South Wales in the 2022 Under 19s State of Origin series.

References

  1. ↑ "I4GIVE FOUNDATION LTD". opencorporates.com. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Home". i4Give Day. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "'Humanity came together': How this family forgave the killer of their children and united a community". SBS Language. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Tinworth, Sue (28 July 2022). "i4GIVE WEEK". Partners In Prayer Australia. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Jail time reduced for driver who killed four children in Oatlands crash". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Rawsthorne, Sally (2 February 2020). "'They were just walking on the footpath': Four children killed, one critical in Sydney crash". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Graham, Ben (3 February 2020). "Timeline of a tragedy that has left Australia in shock".
  8. ↑ "Driver faces 20 charges after four children fatally struck by 4WD". ABC News. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "'No winners': Parents of children killed by drunk driver react to 28-year jail sentence". ABC News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Rawsthorne, Sally (3 February 2020). "'I can't hate him': Mother of three children killed by alleged drunk driver forgives". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "'MY FAMILY HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF': One year on from the tragic crash that rocked the nation". 7NEWS. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "Abdallah family left in shock as fight for memorial takes 'cold-hearted' turn". 7NEWS. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 Achenza, Madeleine. "'Present in their spirit': Parents' moving message at festival dedicated to four kids slain in horror crash".
  14. ↑ "'I 4give Day' launched by families of crash victims - News". www.health.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  15. 1 2 "One year on, families of children killed in Oatlands crash spread message of forgiveness". ABC News. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  16. ↑ Bennett, Natalie (31 January 2022). "i4give Week Sharing the Message of Forgiveness Across Australia". Hope 103.2. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  17. 1 2 "'My heart is torn between Heaven and Earth': Leila Abdallah welcomes newborn daughter". SBS Language. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  18. ↑ NSW, Transport for (28 June 2021). "Four Angels Law enforced from today". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "Leila Abdallah dedicates award after being named mother of the year". 7NEWS. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "Abdallah family makes big announcement two years after devastating Oatlands crash". 7NEWS. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Turner-Cohen, Alex. "'You are so blessed': Confronting question stranger asks Oatlands tragedy couple".
  22. 1 2 "Ten 'everyday' Australians to travel to Queen's funeral with Anthony Albanese". the Guardian. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  23. ↑ "i4GiveDay". atparramatta.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  24. ↑ January 29th, Ben McEachen |; Comment, 2021 11:22 AM | Add a (29 January 2021). "New national day to find the freedom in forgiveness - Eternity News" . Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  25. ↑ 96five (3 February 2022). "i4give Week Sharing the Message of Forgiveness Across Australia". 96five Family Radio. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  26. ↑ Taylor, Bronnie (21 December 2020). "PRESS RELEASE: I4GIVE DAY' LAUNCHED BY FAMILIES OF CRASH VICTIMS" (PDF).
  27. ↑ "PM forgives Barnaby Joyce's text message as an act of human 'frailty'". Australian Financial Review. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  28. ↑ i4Give Chapel Service , retrieved 4 February 2023
  29. ↑ Pizzirani, Daniela (6 February 2022). "National day to find forgiveness following deaths of four children".
  30. ↑ "i4Give Festival launches in NSW to honour Oatlands crash victims". The Age. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  31. ↑ Derrick, Krusche (31 January 2023). "Abdallah family to host free family festival on i4Give Day".
  32. ↑ "Opening remarks: i4Give Festival | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  33. ↑ Ago, 2 Minutes (4 February 2023), Prime Minister gives speech at i4Give Festival in Sydney , retrieved 4 February 2023
  34. ↑ "Bulldogs and Parramatta to play for the I4Give Cup". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  35. ↑ Bulldogs and Eels throw support behind I4Give Cup initiative , retrieved 4 February 2023
  36. ↑ "BULLDOGS AND PARRAMATTA TO PLAY FOR THE I4GIVE CUP - Accor Stadium". accorstadium.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  37. ↑ "Round 15 Team News: Ciraldo Updates His Side for the i4Give Cup Clash". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  38. ↑ Cleary, Matt (9 June 2023). "King's Birthday Bash: Bulldogs and Eels to contest second annual I4Give Cup". Accor Stadium. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.