David Jones announced a nationwide fundraising campaign to raise awareness of the Indigenous literacy gap.
The campaign, launched in time for National Reconciliation Week, is called ‘Literacy is Freedom’.
It marks the fourth year David Jones has partnered with The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation.
This year, David Jones will also partner with Australian brands Camilla, Viktoria & Woods and Academy Brand to release limited edition t-shirts for Reconciliation Week to raise funds.
David Jones ambassadors Adam Goodes and Jessica Gomes, as well as Charlee Fraser, Teresa Palmer, Tom Derickx, and Indigenous rapper and Young Australian of the Year, Danzal Baker (aka Baker Boy) have also been enlisted as ambassadors.
Today, Indigenous opera singer and educator Don Bemrose will join Goodes and Danzal Baker on a panel for staff at the David Jones head office to discuss the significance of National Reconciliation Week and the impact of ALNF’s literacy programs in marginalised communities.
The conversation will continue instore at midday in a first for the department store, with Goodes and Baker recording a podcast in the window of David Jones Bourke Street Mall hosted by journalist Marc Fennell.
In addition to t-shirt sales, for the duration of the campaign David Jones will be offering a round-up donation service at every point-of-sale in addition to donating the profits of five classic children’s books.
David Jones head of sustainability Eloise Bishop said the campaign is an important one.
“David Jones is extremely proud to support the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation, an organisation making tangible and lasting change in Australian communities.
Being able to read and write is a fundamental human right and we are proud to partner with ALNF and to use David Jones’ platform to highlight the problem and most importantly, be part of the solution.
Every dollar raised as part of the ‘Literacy is Freedom’ campaign has a lasting impact on Australian lives and will help us move closer towards closing the Indigenous literacy gap.”