World of Difference 2009 Graduates

Anna Sobczyk - Successful Living Donor

Cause: Dreamfit Foundation (WA)

Anna Sobczyk is a successful business consultant who recognises that one of the biggest challenges not-for profit organisations face, especially in tough economic times, is to remain sustainable.

Dreamfit Foundation is a not for profit organisation where engineering student volunteers design and build innovative solutions for people with disabilities, aimed at improving quality of life.

Anna is taking part in the World of Difference program to help Dreamfit Foundation transform its business to support its growth from a small backyard operation with 10 engineers to a much larger professional organisation, with over 150 engineers.

Ronni Khan - Successful Living Donor 2009

Cause: OzHarvest (NSW)

Ronni Kahn is the founder of Sydney's first 'food rescue' charity, OzHarvest, which collects unused food from leading restaurants, cafes, catering businesses, offices and delis to create meals for the city�s needy.

Thanks to the World of Difference program, Ronni will be able to take a year out from running her successful event management business, to dedicate 100 per cent of her time to OzHarvest.

Ronni aims to raise $1,000,000 during her World of Difference year, while impacting the lives of the same amount of people in the process.

Ross Onley-Zerkel - Successful Self Donator 2009

Cause: Deaf Can Dance (Victoria)

One in every six Australians is affected by deafness and hearing difficulties. As one of these people, Ross Onley-Zerkel understands the chronic isolation that can accompany the disability and believes dance is a powerful vehicle for connecting people and promoting positive mental health.

Ross is a founding member of the dance company, Deaf Can Dance (supported by Arts Access Victoria) and will spend his World of Difference year turning the group into Australia�s first professional deaf dance company.

Debbie Colyer - Successful Living Donor 2009

Cause: PKU Association (NSW)

Debbie Colyer suffers from Phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder which restricts a person�s ability to process phenylalanine, an amino acid which is necessary for central system development.

According to Debbie, PKU has only started being properly diagnosed in Australia within the last 50 years, so funding and medical services for adults with the condition are still lacking.

Debbie is putting her current role in the Vodafone Australia mail room on hold, to dedicate her World of Difference year to the PKU Association of NSW. She will spend her time providing support to families and individuals affected by the condition and developing fundraising activities, including a bi-annual PKU camp, for research into treatment.

John Parr - Successful Living Donor 2009

Cause: St John Ambulance Australia (Qld)

John Parr is a training specialist with St John Ambulance Australia, a charitable organisation dedicated to helping people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger through the provision of first aid services and training.

John passionately believes every child should know what to do in an emergency and have basic first aid skills.

During his World of Difference year, John aims to teach vital first aid skills to 50,000 young people in Queensland.