For every new loan settled, Thinktank contributes $100 to its community giving initiatives — $75 to charities nominated by our team and $25 to our Special Situations Fund, which supports urgent needs including emergencies and natural disasters.

Each year, our team members are invited to nominate a charity close to their hearts, giving them the opportunity to support causes that have personal meaning.

Alongside these team nominations, Thinktank supports a number of organisations through broader company initiatives, including the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation.

Our partnership with St Vincent’s Curran Foundation

Thinktank is proud to support the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, the fundraising organisation for St Vincent’s hospitals and facilities across New South Wales.

The Foundation helps fund medical research, specialist equipment, clinical education and improved facilities, supporting St Vincent’s clinicians and researchers to deliver exceptional patient care and advance healthcare innovation.

Through the generosity of donors and partners, the Foundation helps advance medical research, improve patient care and support healthcare innovation across Australia.

What first drew you to the cause?

Thinktank’s connection to the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation began with one of our original team members, John Lipczynski, who played an important role in helping establish the business in its early years.

John was diagnosed with a serious lung condition that eventually led to him being placed on the lung transplant waiting list at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. While he expected to wait months, if not years, for a suitable donor, he received the call while at work and headed straight to the hospital. John later joked that he was the first transplant patient to arrive for surgery wearing a three-piece suit.

Although the transplant was successful for a period and John faced his illness with remarkable courage, he sadly passed away several years later. Throughout his treatment, John and his family experienced firsthand the exceptional care, compassion and support provided by the St Vincent’s team.

As Jonathan Street, CEO and Co-founder, reflects:

“John was a much-loved member of the Thinktank family and played an important role in shaping our business during its early years. The care and support he and his family received from St Vincent’s left a lasting impression on all of us. When we launched our charitable giving program in 2017, supporting the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation was a natural choice and it’s a relationship we’re proud to continue today.”

That personal connection is what first drew Thinktank to the cause and remains at the heart of our ongoing support for the Foundation and its work.

What impact does this charity have on the community at large or on individuals affected?

The St Vincent’s Curran Foundation helps fund initiatives that improve patient care, advance medical research and support healthcare innovation across a wide range of specialties.

Its impact includes funding new equipment, supporting research positions, contributing to patient care and clinician leadership programs, helping redevelop hospital facilities and expanding community outreach and social justice initiatives. The Foundation also partners with leading research institutions around the world, bringing new ideas, education and best practice into the Australian healthcare system.

For patients and their families, this support can be life changing. From funding innovative transplant technologies and specialist treatment programs to creating modern, purpose-built facilities, the Foundation helps ensure people receive the highest standard of care when they need it most.

Have you been working with this charity in any other way?

Thinktank recently became a Curran Foundation Corporate Partner, creating opportunities for our team to better understand the Foundation’s work and the impact it has on patients, families and the broader community.

Earlier this month, a group of Thinktank team members visited St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney for a guided tour led by clinicians and hospital staff. The visit included the recently refurbished Heart Lung Clinic and Intensive Care Unit, where we learned more about heart and lung transplantation, patient care and the advancements helping improve outcomes for patients living with complex heart and lung conditions.

One of the highlights was hearing from a heart and lung transplant surgeon about advances in lung perfusion technology, including the XVIVO Perfusion System, which Thinktank’s recent contributions to heart and lung innovation have helped support.

Reflecting on the visit, Sienna Joukhador, Marketing Coordinator, said:

“Learning how innovations such as the XVIVO Perfusion System are helping increase successful lung transplant rates was incredibly inspiring. Seeing firsthand how donations contribute to life-saving research and patient care really brought the impact of St Vincent’s work to life.”

Heena Geronimo, Senior Manager People and Culture, added:

“The tour provided a deeper understanding of the level of care transplant patients require throughout their journey. It was impressive to see how modern facilities and ongoing investment directly support better outcomes for patients and their families.”

The visit provided a powerful reminder of the role philanthropy plays in supporting medical innovation, patient care and better health outcomes for Australians.

How can others get involved to make a difference?

There are many ways to support the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, whether through donations, fundraising, corporate partnerships or helping raise awareness of the Foundation’s work.

Every contribution helps support life-saving medical research, advanced technology, world-class facilities and exceptional patient care.

To learn more about the Foundation and how you can support its work, visit the https://www.curranfoundation.org.au/.