Sydney’s A- list turned out to celebrate the event of a lifetime – Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT- on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday 2 March at the regal City Recital Hall.

The star-studded night included emotional and insightful Q & As between the night’s host, Molly Meldrum, and three of Michael Jackson’s closest friends. Acclaimed THIS IS IT director Kenny Ortega praised Australian fans for their dedication as did choreographer extraordinaire Travis Payne and Michael Jackson’s brother Jackie Jackson.

Not only was the night a celebration of the King of Pop with exclusive footage and performances but it was also a great success for You Can with celebrities galore donating their old mobile phones. Everyone from Guy Sebastian and Delta Goodrem to Nacho Pop and Richard Reid showed their support for Sony Foundation and CanTeen’s initiative.

Also enjoying the spectacular display of talent were Sony Foundation ambassadors Emma Freedman and Dr John D’Arcy.

Not only did attendees have the opportunity to donate their phone on the night but all guests also received a You Can pre-paid envelope to take home- making it easy for them to donate the phones kicking around their bottom drawer.

The night ended on a dramatic high with Guy Sebastian and Delta Goodrem’s emotional rendition of Earth Song. This iconic song’s message has never been more relevant. Donate your old mobile phone for recycling today.    

Sony Foundation thanks Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for a wonderful night of entertainment and their generous support of You Can.

The magnificent Terrey Hills greens are waiting!

No doubt you spent many hours over the summer finessing your drive technique – now is your chance to show off the results.

The annual Sony Foundation Golf Challenge is nearing. Join us on Thursday 25 March for an exciting day of competition, all for a good cause.

Your participation will help raise much needed funds for a range of youth-related programs Sony Foundation Australia currently support.

Email monique@sonyfoundation.org.aufor more information. To register your team, simply download the below form and send to Monique.

Stan’s the man! Australia’s newest Idol, Stan Walker, has joined Sony Foundation as an official ambassador. The charismatic singer will aid in raising the profile of the Foundation as we take our innovative youth programs into the public domain.

For Stan, who has a family history of cancer, the Foundation’s latest campaign to build specialised cancer wards for 15-30 year olds is of particular significance.

"My cousin passed away from cancer last year, he was only 17. It was heartbreaking and the fact he was sharing a ward with old people made it worse. I feel privileged to be able to support the Sony Foundation in this important campaign,” Walker said.

One in 100 Australians is diagnosed with cancer before the age of 30 and in the last 25 years there has been virtually no improvement in survival outcomes for the 15 to 30 age group. Sony Foundation, along with charity partner CanTeen, is determined to provide teenage and young adult cancer sufferers with the specialised services they deserve.

For Stan Walker – using his new found success to do good is a priority. “My win is so much bigger than me,” he says. “It’s for everyone who has ever done it tough”.

Stan joins a host of high-profile ambassadors including Socceroo stars Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill who have dedicated their time, energy and public profile to help the Foundation achieve its mission to assist Australia’s youth and foster their talents.

On Saturday, 31 October, Sony Foundation helped bring smiles to the faces of sick kids at Sydney’s Westmead Children’s Hospital by organising a visit from Australian Idol’s top five.

Stan, James, Toby, Nathan and Hayley took time out of their hectic Idol schedules and calmed any pre-show nerves by spending the morning entertaining and interacting with dozens of thrilled children, their families and some big fans on the nursing staff.

Many of the kids gave the singers a run for their money with guitar duels, duets and sing-a-long’s. The Idol’s surprise visit to several wards brought some much needed excitement to the children, many of whom have spent long and arduous weeks or months in hospital.

However, the smiles were not reserved for the patients – the Idols were equally moved by the experience, and Nathan and Hayley, who have both spent time at Westmead Children’s Hospital in their younger years, were delighted to be able to raise the kid’s spirits for a morning.

This visit came just two days after the Idols brought the house down with their rendition of Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ at Sony Foundation's Wharf4Ward event held at Sydney’s Woolloomooloo Wharf. The event raised a staggering $300,000 to help build specialised cancer wards for teens and young adults throughout Australia.

In March 2009, Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer hosted the Flood & Fire Benefit at Astral Restaurant, Star City in conjunction with Sony Foundation, raising well in excess of $200,000 for the young victims of the fire and floods which devastated Queensland and Victoria.

Lucas Neill proudly became a formal Ambassador, following this initial introduction to the work of Sony Foundation. Now he and the Foundation have teamed up with CanTeen to champion a cause that is aimed at improving survival outcomes for young Australians facing cancer.

After leading his Socceroos side out against the Netherlands at Sydney Football Stadium on 10 October, Socceroo Captain Lucas used his very limited time off the next morning to meet CanTeen members Linton and Camille Fyfe, and Frank and Mark Aboona, for a photo shoot with OK! magazine.

Lucas surprised the teenagers by presenting each with an official Socceroo jersey and football, happily posing for photos and autographing each gift with a personal message. The young fans also got an opportunity to show off their own skills by trying out some headers with Lucas, or challenging him by way of their own fancy footwork with the round ball.

All this fun was underlined by a serious message which Lucas wants the whole nation to get behind.

“One in 100 Australians is diagnosed with cancer by the age of 30. Our mission is to raise $15 million in the next 5 years and establish a cancer service for 15 to 30 year olds right across the country.

It’s not fair that kids have to be put through this,” he says of the CanTeen members. “But then you see them go on to be doctors, scientists and professional sportspeople, and all the things that cancer might deny them the opportunity to do if we don’t help them.”

With cancer the leading cause of disease-related death amongst Australia’s teenagers, there is an obvious and urgent need for action. Working together with CanTeen, The Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer, Sony Foundation’s long term aim is to fund the establishment of teen and young adult cancer wards throughout the country. These wards will address the lack of improvement in cancer survival for this age group, by providing a focus for collaboration amongst medical professionals, facilitating the development of clinical trials, encouraging specialist training and allowing for the delivery of a psychosocial support service equipped to deal with the issues specific to this age group.

One of our first fundraising efforts will see a range of supporters gather at Woolloomooloo Wharf on 29 October for Wharf4Ward, a new event on the Foundation’s calendar.

Despite having to return to the UK to play football for Everton alongside best friend and fellow Sony Foundation Ambassador, Tim Cahill, Lucas has pledged his support for Wharf4Ward by auctioning his first autographed Everton strip since signing with the EPL club. He and Tim are also offering up an exclusive meet and greet with the Socceroo stars on the eve of the 2010 World Cup which will be one of many special prizes on offer at this signature, sold-out event.

For more images of the OK! Magazine shoot with Lucas Neill, please view our photo gallery.

Sony Foundation is proud to be amongst the first to embrace new mobile phone technology, by delivering an innovative donation service to their many loyal supporters. The Foundation has partnered with gomeeki, a leading Australian interactive technology agency, integrating their sophisticated mobile payments solution into the campaign to enable supporters to make payments through their mobile devices using PayPal or major credit / debit cards.

In the meantime we are also launching a new campaign, ‘Buy-a-Builder’, a fundraising mechanism that asks people to buy a customisable virtual builder (or avatar) and send him/her to work in an effort to raise funds to build age appropriate wards to treat teenage and young adult cancer patients.

Sony Foundation Executive Director, Dr Louise Messara says “Buy-a-Builder is Sony Foundation’s public call to action. We wanted something that gives people a tangible sense of what their contribution is a part of, no matter how big or small their donation is. With gomeeki’s help we are able to reach the very age group we are aiming to provide better cancer services for – the teen and young adult market, for whom mobile devices are the communication tool of choice. This technology will make donating an interactive experience, allowing Australian to donate wherever and whenever they wish.”

The public can access the Buy-a-Builder program via website, mobile phone or by purchasing a donation card in store at Sony Centres. All mechanisms will drive supporters of the initiative to the website www.buyabuilder.com.au. This site, set up as a virtual construction site, allows the public to create a unique ‘virtual brickie’ or ‘virtual chippie’ etc, in their own image. These builders will then join the army of supporters, whose donations are contributing to building teenage and young adult cancer wards around the country.

For more details on the Buy-A-Builder campaign, see www.buyabuilder.com.au or to make a donation via our mobile donation service. SMS ‘Donate” to 193 123.

March saw Socceroo stars Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer join forces with Sony Foundation Australia to stage a black tie benefit dinner in support of the bushfire and flood disasters that ravaged Victoria and Queensland in early 2009.

Following the resounding success of the Fire & Flood Benefit, Lucas and Tim have become closely involved with our other programs and are now proud to strengthen that association by joining a growing list of official Sony Foundation Ambassadors. This exciting affiliation places them alongside other notable Australians from entertainment, business and sport, including John Eales AM, Mark Taylor AO and Dr John D’Arcy.

The role will see Lucas and Tim aid in raising our profile as we take the Foundation’s innovative youth programs into the public domain and actively engage the Australian public in our fundraising activities and campaigns.

“As a young player trying to make it in the world of football, having someone support, invest and believe in my potential helped me rise to the top of my game. Improving opportunities for other young Australians is therefore really close to my heart.

In joining as an Ambassador for Sony Foundation, I can witness firsthand the teamwork that has proven so successful in developing talent and improving outcomes for youth who find themselves in situations less fortunate than me. The power of Sony Foundation to transform young lives across so many areas of life is remarkable and something I’m proud to be actively involved with in my home country,” said Lucas, Captain of the Socceroos.

As the first team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Socceroos have a punishing calendar of matches to complete in the lead up to the biggest sporting event across the globe. Despite their busy international and Club match schedule, both athletes have pledged support for our three major charity beneficiaries by agreeing to join us for several Sony Foundation signature events during the next year.

We are delighted to welcome Lucas and Tim to the Sony Foundation family where they join many other accomplished Australians who so generously donate their time in support of our many important youth programs.