When I was a boy my dreams were about meeting the beautiful girl who would become my wife, about our children, about making money, about success. In short, they were dreams about me. But life teaches you many things. Perhaps the most important is that dreams can be bigger, they can embrace many people and be about leaving a legacy that helps others to see their dreams fulfilled.

There are many people in this world, who through accident or misfortune, dare not even allow themselves to dream. I want the Paint A Rainbow Foundation to reach out to these people, to give them a reason to dream, to see that life can be a many coloured thing. A rainbow is a symbol of a promise. My promise is to dedicate the Paint A Rainbow Foundation to giving help to those who need it most, not just today but forever.

- Pat Sergi, OAM
Chairman and Founder
Paint A Rainbow Foundation

SPASTIC CENTRE NSW

In early 1988 the government had cut funding to the Spastic Centre of NSW. Pat Sergi’s Godson, Joe Mittiga, suffers from cerebral palsy and it was in 1988, with the reduction in funds and in the Spastic Centres services to Joe and children like him that spurred Joe’s father, Roy Mittiga, and Pat into action.

Thus was born An Italian Affair Committee chaired by Pat Sergi which dedicated themselves to raising funds for the Spastic Centre of NSW through various activities and the participation of young ladies, sponsored by the Italian Affair Committee, in the Miss Australia Fundraiser quest. A total of five girls have been sponsored by the Italian Affair Committee resulting in all five girls winning the titles of Miss Fundraiser.

Over the past twenty years The Italian Affair Committee, chaired by Pat Sergi, has built the largest community project in Australia being the construction of the South West Sydney Region Spastic Centre in Prairiewood. The ground breaking ceremony took place on the 23rd September 1994 and then in 1995 there was the grand opening on the site officially opened by the then Prime Minister Mr Paul Keating.

Pat has also been involved with the building of the Community Access Service Centre in Liverpool and more recently the building of the Spastic Centre at Kingswood.

The Italian Affair Committee has raised in excess of 12 million dollars for the Spastic Centre.

LIVERPOOL HERITAGE AWARD

On 7th November 1993 Pat Sergi received the City of Liverpool Heritage Award for local community charity work.

HONORARY LIFE MEMBER – SPASTIC CENTRE NSW

On 13th November 1993 Pat Sergi was nominated by the Spastic Centre of NSW to become a life member for his involvement in the overall fundraising for the Spastic Centre. Honorary Life membership of the Spastic Centre of NSW is the highest honour that the Board of Directors
or the members of the organisation can bestow on a person and is reserved for people who have rendered special and important services to the Centre.

ROTARIAN

Pat joined the Rotary Club of Wetherill Park and was elected membership on 27th February 1993 and still is a current member taking part in local community work.

ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Pat was nominated for the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 1996 by the Spastic Centre and awarded the grand honour on 26th January 1997.

FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION

After Pat Sergi’s mother suffered with severe eye problems and her sight was saved by Professor Paul Beaumont Pat was so grateful he decided to show his gratitude by giving back to others suffering with eye problems. Initially he wanted just to make a donation but his efforts in fundraising resulted into two major Gala balls which raised a total of $600,000-00.

In 1997 the first Gala Ball raised $100,000-00 and in 1998 $500,000-00 was raised at the ‘Eye Ball’ Gala ball held at Star City Casino. All monies raised on both occasions were given to the Fred Hollows foundation.

OLYMPIC TORCH BEARER

Pat Sergi was honoured to be nominated to run with the torch for the Sydney 2000 Olympics by various charity organisations for his work in fundraising. Pat received that honour and on Sunday 27th August 2000 Pat took part in the Forster - to – Newcastle leg of the torch relay along the Pacific Highway.

OLYMPIC VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE

Pat was on the South-West Olympic Fundraising Committee and was a member of the Volunteers Advisory Committee representing the Rotary Club of Australia for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Committee.

BALI APPEAL

When the Bali disaster occurred Pat Sergi instigated the idea to raise money for the families of the Bali victims and because Craig Salvatore, a good friend of Pat’s, lost his wife in the tragedy, he was determined to do all he could to help him and other families who had suffered in the disaster. Pat, together with Italian Affair Committee and friends in conjunction with the Australian Red Cross, Craig Salvatore and friends held a Bali Appeal night on Tuesday 19th November 2002 at Le Montage and ended up raising a total of $480,000-00. In all approximately 48 families who lost a family member in the tragedy received an amount of $10,000-00 each.

WADDELL AND KORONEOS FUNDRAISER

Pat supported Alan Jones in his project to raise money for the Waddell and Koroneos family when they lost their homes and family members. A total of approximately $460,000-00 was raised and funded a new home for the Waddell family and extensive renovations for the Koroneos family so they could rebuild their lives.

TSUNAMI APPEAL

When the Tsunami disaster occurred again Pat Sergi felt the need to do all he could to help the victims in need. On Tuesday 1st February 2005 a fundraising ball was organised by Pat and held at Le Montage. A total of $800,000-00 was raised whereby $350,000-00 was distributed to Father Chris Riley to build an orphanage in Aceh and another $300,000-00 to the Rotary Club of Sydney to also build another children’s orphanage in Aceh. All other money was distributed to other Tsunami appeals.

CP BOARD MEMBER

Pat Sergi is on the board of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation to assist in raising 50 million dollars to support research for Cerebral Palsy.

YOUTH OFF THE STREETS PROJECT – MACQUARIE FIELDS

Pat Sergi’s involved in the fundraising committee to assist in building a community project at Macquarie Fields in excess of 3.5 million dollars for Father Chris Riley’s youth off the Streets.

DONATIONS

Over the years Pat Sergi has given donations to organisations such as The Heart Foundation, The Cancer Council Foundation, The Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and Westmead Hospital, Schizophrenia Foundation, Life Line, Red Cross, DARE Ops, Fred Hollow Foundation, Macular Degeneration Foundation, Youth Off The Streets, Childrens Medical Research Institute, Sydney Cochlear Implant Institute, "Panthers On The Prowl Community Development Foundation" Penrith Panthers, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, CP Foundation, St Vincents Prostate Cancer Centre, Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation, Vietnam Vision Project, Italian Opera Foundation, Cure the Future Cell and Gene Trust, Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and The Ruby Bourke Foundation.