Entrepreneur and philanthropist
Having come from a poor background himself, Pat LaManna readily relates to the misfortunes of others. He battled racism and economic adversity during the years after his arrival in Australia from Italy in 1948, but he persevered and became a successful entrepreneur. He has used these skills to give back to countless charities in Australia and the Third World. He has been a member of the Lions Club for 40 years and founded the Lions Club of the Melbourne Markets in 1972 which has become the highest fund raising Lions Club in Australia. Due to his commitment, he has been elected president of the club seven times. Pat also started the Hand-to-Hand Appeal for the Bionic Hands Department at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, raising $198,000, and the Pat LaManna Cancer and Research Stroke Foundation which has raised $1.5 million to date. He established the annual Melbourne Passion Play in 1997, an outdoor re-enactment of the story of Christ that is funded by Pat and is free to the public. These are but a few of the generous contributions Pat has made to the community, serving it with energy and devotion.
Source: National Australia Day Council
January 27, 2009
AUSTRALIA: Pat LaManna is Senior Australian of the Year 2009
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CANBERRA, Australia / Australian Aging Agenda / January 27, 2009
Melbourne entrepreneur and philanthropist, Pat LaManna has been named the 2009 Senior Australian of the Year at a ceremony in Canberra on the weekend.
Mr LaManna relates readily to the misfortunes of others, having fought against racism and financial hardship when he arrived in Australia from Italy in 1948, the official citation said.
Despite these obstacles, Mr LaManna went on to become a successful entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to charities in Australia and the Third World.
Mr LaManna has been a Lions Club member for 40 years, founding the Melbourne Markets branch in 1972.
The club, which has elected Mr LaManna president seven times, is now the highest fund-raising Lions Club in Australia.
Mr La Manna has also made significant contributions to medical research.
He started the Hand-to-Hand Appeal for the Bionic Hands Department at Melbourne's Royal Children’s Hospital and the Pat LaManna Cancer and Research Stroke Foundation which has raised $1.5 million to date.
Mr LaManna was also the driving force and principle sponsor of Melbourne’s free annual Passion Play – an outdoor re-enactment of the story of Christ – which began in 1997.
Source: AAA
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2009 Pat LaManna OAM
Entrepreneur and philanthropist
Having come from a poor background himself, Pat LaManna readily relates to the misfortunes of others. He battled racism and economic adversity during the years after his arrival in Australia from Italy in 1948, but he persevered and became a successful entrepreneur. He has used these skills to give back to countless charities in Australia and the Third World. He has been a member of the Lions Club for 40 years and founded the Lions Club of the Melbourne Markets in 1972 which has become the highest fund raising Lions Club in Australia. Due to his commitment, he has been elected president of the club seven times. Pat also started the Hand-to-Hand Appeal for the Bionic Hands Department at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, raising $198,000, and the Pat LaManna Cancer and Research Stroke Foundation which has raised $1.5 million to date. He established the annual Melbourne Passion Play in 1997, an outdoor re-enactment of the story of Christ that is funded by Pat and is free to the public. These are but a few of the generous contributions Pat has made to the community, serving it with energy and devotion.
Source: National Australia Day Council
Entrepreneur and philanthropist
Having come from a poor background himself, Pat LaManna readily relates to the misfortunes of others. He battled racism and economic adversity during the years after his arrival in Australia from Italy in 1948, but he persevered and became a successful entrepreneur. He has used these skills to give back to countless charities in Australia and the Third World. He has been a member of the Lions Club for 40 years and founded the Lions Club of the Melbourne Markets in 1972 which has become the highest fund raising Lions Club in Australia. Due to his commitment, he has been elected president of the club seven times. Pat also started the Hand-to-Hand Appeal for the Bionic Hands Department at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, raising $198,000, and the Pat LaManna Cancer and Research Stroke Foundation which has raised $1.5 million to date. He established the annual Melbourne Passion Play in 1997, an outdoor re-enactment of the story of Christ that is funded by Pat and is free to the public. These are but a few of the generous contributions Pat has made to the community, serving it with energy and devotion.
Source: National Australia Day Council
