Charity Fund founder receives a new year honour.

 

John Donaghy, managing director of Discount Office National and the driving force behind the Australian Office Products Charitable Fund, has been nominated as a finalist in the 2025 St George & Sutherland Shire Leader’s Citizen of the Year Awards.

 

Donaghy was instrumental in the founding of the Charity Fund, which has raised more than $1.7 million since its inception more than 24 years ago.

 

In addition to hosting annual fund-raising lunches and golf days, Donaghy has personally organised and delivered thousands of book packs to many children’s charities, including Dandelion Support Network and, most recently, Roundabout Canberra. 

 

Below is the Leader’s tribute to John Donaghy as part of its Citizen of the Year program:

 

John had an idea over 20 years ago to create non-profit events and raise money for as many charities as he could across Australia. 

 

Starting with just himself, John has organised and hosted over 50 different charity events, raising over 1.7 million dollars to date.

 

Despite being almost 65, he remains active in hosting events such as golf tournaments, charity lunches, raffles, and auctions, each time selecting a different charity to support. These have included, as Dandelion Support Network, Bears of Hope, The Charlie Teo Foundation, Mind Blank, and Mirabel.

 

Alongside these events, John creates around 1000 book and stationery packs annually for children and families in need.

 

John works five days a week while sacrificing his weekends and holidays to complete his charity work.  Many of the charities John supports rely entirely on community donations, as they do not receive government funding.

 

He has spent hundreds of hours this year alone dedicated to raising funds and supporting children and families in need within our communities

 

PHOTO: John Donaghy with one the Charity Fund’s recipients, Gabrielle Humphreys, operations manager of Dandelion Support Network.