We went looking for traders with deep pockets. We found something else...

I cannot express higher gratitude to the generous and amazing support of Rob Keldoulis from Vivienne Court Trading for donating an unbelievable $100,000 our Rowed Less Travelled campaign last week. 

100% of this donation has passed directly to the Black Dog Institute - a group of equally exceptional people, vehement and unrelenting in their pursuit of the understanding, prevention and treatment of mental illness. 

When we first contacted Rob at VivCourt a few years ago asking them to be a sponsor, we hoped to find traders with deep pockets and some form of CSR that aligned with mental health initiatives. What we found was something completely different.

We discovered an exceptional company led by people with a limitless capacity for giving. We found a CEO not only committed to benevolence, but someone who had made it their entire raison d'etre...

What I have found with Rob and the rest of the team at VivCourt is something rare. Absolute proof that there are companies that exist who aren't driven by rapacity.

VivCourt's first donation came at a time when all Rob knew about us was we had NEVER rowed before.  But it helped us to buy our boat (our credit cards were pretty much maxed out at that point!) It allowed us to train and further raise awareness of Black Dog's work. It allowed us to set in motion a series of events that culminated with us rowing 3000 miles. But most importantly, it has allowed us to raise nearly $400,000 to date. 

What makes their most recent donation so prodigious is not just the amount. It's that it was given without being asking for. And it came at a time when the need for investment in the cause and treatment of mental health disease has never been greater. 

What I have found with Rob and the rest of the team at VivCourt is something rare. Absolute proof that there are companies that exist who aren't driven by rapacity. There are those who do not measure themselves by how efficiently they can turn a dollar into a dollar ten, but by how much impact they can have on the lives of others.

On behalf of the Rowed Less Travelled and The Black Dog Institute...Thank you VivCourt

Fletch and the boys from the Rowed Less Travelled.

Vivienne Court Trading 

Black Dog Institute

Rowed Less Travelled

#Science Compassion Action