Every year, June 8 marks World Oceans Day – a moment to celebrate our blue planet and reflect on the part we all play in protecting it. This year, Australian Fundraising is proud to share an incredible milestone. Thanks to the efforts of young Australians, more than 75,000 coral fragments have been planted on the Great Barrier Reef!

Through our Care For A Cause initiative that includes a partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, students are doing far more than just raising money for their school. They’re taking real-world action to not only help out people in need in the community, but to protect one of the most vital and vulnerable ecosystems on Earth as well.

Turning Fundraising into Environmental Action

Let’s face it, traditional fundraising often ends in toys and trinkets. But with Care For A Cause, students are choosing impact over prizes. For every $20 raised, students can choose to support the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with one of two amazing causes:

• Planting coral on the Great Barrier Reef
• Protecting turtles by supporting vital conservation work carried out by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation

And their choices are already making waves. In addition to the 75,100+ corals planted, students have contributed more than 19,400 turtle tokens, helping fund projects that restore nesting grounds, protect seagrass meadows, and rebuild turtle habitats. It’s not just about dollars raised – it’s about kids learning that they can make a difference.

A Crisis On The Reef We Can’t Ignore

The need for action is urgent. A 2023–2024 study published in Limnology and Oceanography Letters tracked 462 coral colonies during a severe marine heatwave at One Tree Island. By July 2024, nearly half had died. Among the hardest hit were Acropora corals, suffering a catastrophic 95% mortality rate.

But where there’s crisis, there’s also opportunity and hope. “The data from the 2024 bleaching event is devastating. There’s no sugar-coating it,” says Robert Gaydon, Co-CEO of Australian Fundraising. “But when I see thousands of young people stepping up to protect something bigger than themselves, it gives me hope. They’re not just fundraising; they’re future-proofing the planet.”

The Journey from Go Green to Care For A Cause

Originally launched in 2020 as Go Green, this purpose-driven fundraising path evolved into Care For A Cause in 2024. Since its launch, families have rallied together to not only support their schools, but also give back in powerful ways*:

• 75,000+ coral planted
• 83,000+ trees planted
• 91,000+ meals provided
• 19,000+ turtle tokens donated
• $150,000+ raised to combat bullying in schools

And now, the next big milestone is in sight: 100,000 corals by the end of 2025.

Why Care For A Cause Matters

Care For A Cause is more than a feel-good option. It’s a way to teach young Australians that their voice and their actions matter. It turns passive concern into active contribution, and that ripple effect can reach far beyond the school gates.

Want to see your students get excited about fundraising and saving the planet with our Monty the Monstar Fun Run?

Learn more about Care For A Cause as part of our Traditional Prize Option.

Together, we can inspire the next generation of changemakers!

* Figures accurate @ 5 June 2025