The CEO of Make A Mark Australia, Mark Fraser, has been awarded the University of Sydney Alumni Award for Community Achievement.

In a strong field of impressive candidates, each making their own exceptional contribution to the community sector, Mark received the award in recognition of ‘his contribution to the enrichment of society through the organisation he co-founded, Make A Mark Australia’.

At the recent presentation ceremony in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney, Mark said that the most satisfying part of empowering children to reach their full potential “is knowing that you are changing the world, one child at a time. Sure, the challenges are great, the scale is great, but ultimately it is worth every effort to help even one single child. To look into the wide bright eyes of a child longing for opportunity is to know what hope is.”

“I believe that each of us has the responsibility, if not an obligation, to do something outside of ourselves to make the world a better place. It doesn’t matter if it is in your family, local community or on the other side of the world – it is our compassion and ability to empathise with others that underpins our humanity.”

Mark Fraser, CEO of MAMA

In its first five years, MAMA has funded nine significant projects, assisting more than 7,400 students in six countries including Zambia, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The University of Sydney Alumni Magazine ‘SAM’, November 2014, page 26.