The Governor of South Australia, His Excellency Mr Hieu Van Le AO and Mrs Van Le, hosted a reception at Government House this week for the Living Without Limits Foundation – a charity co-founded by two of SA’s most dynamic Greek Australian businesses – Maras Group and BDO Adelaide.
Living Without Limits (LWL) was established in 2012 by SA business identities Steve Maras (Mars Group), BDO Adelaide partner George Yatzis, and Phillip de Pinto (Universal Motor Auctions), and has been active in raising funds for projects aimed at helping children with autism and cerebral palsy.
The reception at Government House was designed to formally thank family, friends, and supporters of the Foundation and raise awareness of its work.
The governor presented certificates of appreciation to a select number of individuals who had given significant financial support in the last two years, including Daniel Amadio of Amadio Wines, football legends Russell Ebert and Barrie Robran, Brent Felice of Coopers, David Holst of AP Eagers, Daniel Milky of Argo on The Parade, Mark Morelli of Konica Minolta, Stuart Murray of BankSA, Julie Wrobel of Algo Mas Marketing, Darren McCormack of Cornes Toyota, Warren Tudor of Peter Kittle Toyota, Pino Silvestri, Paul Crawford and Steve Thomson of CMI Toyota.
Steve Maras CEO of Maras Group told Neos Kosmos: “It was tremendous to have the governor of South Australia open the doors of Government House and welcome our foundation into their magnificent home and to honour its work, but moreover, to pay tribute to the many remarkable supporters, both individuals and businesses, who are assisting and supporting the foundation’s work”.
Foundation chairman Phillip de Pinto said that LWL has grown faster than expected and is close to achieving its goal to establish a House of Respite.
“The purpose of this facility will be to provide holiday accommodation to families whose children are affected by autism and cerebral palsy, those who never get the chance to have a break, who have little money left after paying for therapies. It is our strong objective to develop a facility of this kind for many years to come to provide respite for hundreds of South Australian families.”
Mr de Pinto also took the opportunity to announce this year’s major fundraising event for the foundation – a black-tie gala dinner spectacular at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on 18 July.