A Holiday Visit That Put Smiles First: Vantage Foundation Brings Joy to Children at Starlight Sydney

Volunteers from Vantage bring a festive day to Starlight Sydney

On December 17, 2025, the Vantage Foundation teamed up with Team Building with Purpose to stage a hands-on holiday visit at Starlight Sydney. The event took place in a bright community room at the Starlight facility where children receiving care and their families came together with volunteers for an afternoon of crafts, games and gift-giving. The goal was simple: to create a warm, normal-feeling moment during a difficult time of year. For many families, the visit offered a rare break from hospital corridors and appointment schedules, and for the volunteers it was a chance to meet the people their charity work affects.

How the volunteer session unfolded: activities, people and pace

The day was designed like a small festival. About 50 Vantage employees arrived in the morning and split into teams coordinated by facilitators from Team Building with Purpose. Some groups ran craft stations where children could decorate stockings and make holiday cards. Others led play zones with board games and simple group activities that let kids of different ages take part. A quieter corner hosted a reading circle, where volunteers took turns reading holiday stories to smaller children.

Volunteers also packed and wrapped gift bundles assembled from donated items such as warm hats, books and sensory toys. When it was time to hand them out, teams escorted families to pick up their bundles and stayed to chat. The whole visit ran for about four hours, long enough to let shy children warm up and for staff to rotate in and out without causing disruption to care schedules.

Starlight Sydney staff helped match activities to the children’s needs. Some kids joined from nearby wards; others came with parents who used the event as a social pause. The atmosphere stayed upbeat but low-key, with music, gentle games and plenty of helpers ready to give one-on-one attention.

Words from organizers, volunteers and families

“We wanted to bring a little normalcy and fun to families who often miss out on the small joys of the season,” said Maria Lopez, director of the Vantage Foundation. “Seeing a child’s face light up when they open a book makes the whole day worthwhile.”

One volunteer, software developer Ben Carter, described the visit in plain terms: “It wasn’t about big gestures. It was about sitting on the floor and playing a silly game for ten minutes. That mattered.”

Starlight Sydney’s community liaison, Hannah Reid, said the partnership filled a real need. “Visits like this help children feel seen beyond their illness. The volunteers brought creativity and care that staff alone can’t always provide,” she said.

Parents who attended were quietly grateful. A mother who wished to remain unnamed said the event gave her son something to look forward to and her family a few hours of relief. “We left with smiles and a few new pictures on our phone,” she said.

Tangible outcomes: how many people were helped and what was given

The visit delivered measurable benefits. Around 120 children and family members participated, supported by roughly 50 volunteers and a handful of Starlight staff. Volunteers logged close to 200 combined hours for the day, counting planning time, travel and on-site activity.

Organizers distributed about 150 gift bundles tailored by age group, plus loose items such as books and hats for additional families who arrived later. The day also produced a small library of donated reading material left with Starlight for future use and several activity kits designed for bedside play.

Beyond these physical donations, the event generated quieter but important gains: sustained attention from community volunteers, new contacts for Starlight’s volunteer roster, and a boost in morale for families who often feel isolated. For Starlight staff, the extra hands and fresh ideas helped stretch their services during a busy season.

Who the partners are and why this visit fits their missions

The Vantage Foundation is the charitable arm of Vantage and focuses on community health and child welfare programs. Team Building with Purpose is a consultancy that runs volunteer-driven corporate team days, pairing company groups with local charities for hands-on work. Starlight Sydney supports seriously ill children and their families through programs that bring play, distraction and family time into clinical settings.

Both Vantage Foundation and Team Building with Purpose have run similar events in past years, from toy drives to mentoring sessions. This visit fits into a wider calendar of holiday and health-focused outreach that each group lists as part of its annual work.

Where this sits in corporate giving and what comes next

The Starlight Sydney visit is a clear example of a growing preference for active volunteer programs over one-off cash donations. Corporations are increasingly seeking ways to involve employees directly, both to deliver help and to build team spirit. For the Vantage Foundation, that means more days like this — events that pair staff engagement with measurable local benefit.

Vantage said it plans to repeat similar visits next year and to expand collaborations that let employees volunteer during work hours. For readers who want to support groups like Starlight Sydney, there are usually local volunteering options and donation drives at this time of year. Small acts — giving a book, packing an activity kit, or showing up to spend time — can make a tangible difference for families facing illness during the holidays.

Sources

• prnewswire.com