Peter Baines was a NSW Police forensic investigator for 22 years and led the Australian and International teams following the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Peter was deployed into Thailand for several months leading the teams in the identification of the 5395 bodies that we recovered. On his last rotation into Thailand he met a group of kids who had all lost their parents. He then made a commitment to raise funds to contribute to the building of a home for them. That was the start of Hands Across the Water the charity.Since that time we have established ourselves in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand as a legal entity. Collectively we have raised over $25m AUD and importantly never spent one cent of donors money on admin or fundraising. We have seven different properties that we support in Thailand and our commitment is long term. We support the kids into and through university and currently have 47 kids studying varying courses across Thailand Uni's. Much of our charity fundraising is done via 800km bike rides that we lead in Thailand that are open to individuals and companies alike. This raises funds to meet the $1.8m annual recurrent funds that we need each year to support the children and communities.In 2011, we established a company now called Hands Group which sits next to charity and undertakes its own commercial activities to generate funds (not through donations) and these funds are used to employ the Australian based team and meet all the administrative and fundraising costs. This keeps the separation of the funds clean and ensures all donations goes to the kids. A massive contributor to the operational costs of Hands Group is the Future of Leadership, an annual Conference that is hosted in seven locations across three countries and still growing. Profits made above the operating costs of Hands Group are donated to Hands Across the Water. It operates as a true social enterprise.

Website: handsgroup.org.au

Employees: 5 - 9

HQ:

Location: , , AU

Revenue: 1 - 2.5 Million

Hands Across the Water: A Non-Profit Organization Making a Difference in Thailand Hands Across the Water is a non-profit organization that was founded by Peter Baines, a former NSW Police forensic investigator, in 2004. The organization was established with the goal of supporting children who had lost their parents in the Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand. Since its inception, Hands Across the Water has grown to become a respected charity that has made a significant impact in the lives of many children in Thailand. The organization's main objective is to provide long-term support to children who have been affected by the tsunami and other disasters. They have established seven different properties in Thailand that provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children to grow and learn. The organization also supports the children's education, with 47 kids currently studying in various universities across Thailand. Hands Across the Water's fundraising efforts are unique and innovative. They organize 800km bike rides in Thailand that are open to individuals and companies. These bike rides not only raise funds for the organization but also promote awareness about the charity's mission. The funds raised from these events go towards meeting the $1.8m annual recurrent funds that the organization needs to support the children and communities. In addition to their charity work, Hands Across the Water has also established a social enterprise called Hands Group. This company undertakes commercial activities to generate funds that are used to employ the Australian-based team and meet all the administrative and fundraising costs. This ensures that all donations received by the charity go directly towards supporting the children. Hands Across the Water's commitment to transparency and accountability is evident in their financial management. They have a separate company, Hands Group, that manages their commercial activities and donates the profits made above the operating costs to the charity. This ensures that all donations received by the charity are used solely for the benefit of the children and communities they support. In conclusion, Hands Across the Water is a non-profit organization that has made a significant impact in the lives of many children in Thailand. Their commitment to providing long-term support to those affected by disasters, innovative fundraising efforts, and transparency in financial management make them a respected and trustworthy charity. If you are looking to support a worthy cause, consider donating to Hands Across the Water or participating in one of their bike rides. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Peter Baines worked for the police in New South Wales for 22 years, and he led teams in Australia and other countries after a big tsunami in 2004. He went to Thailand for several months to help identify bodies, and he met some kids who had lost their parents. He promised to raise money to build a home for them, and that's how Hands Across the Water started. We've raised over $25 million and have properties in Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. We support kids through university and have 47 kids in school. We raise money with bike rides that anyone can join, and we use the money to support the kids and communities. In 2011, we started a company called Hands Group that makes money on its own and uses it to pay for our team and expenses. This way, all the money donated goes straight to the kids. We also have a conference called Future of Leadership that makes a profit, and we give that money to Hands Across the Water. We're a social enterprise that helps kids and communities in Thailand.