The JW Foundation on modernising philanthropy and unveiling a new era of charity

Ascending the steep staircase of The Sophia Arcade in Prahran, Melbourne, while listening to a chorus of masterful, young voices feels like departing one world and entering another. That is precisely the sensation the creators of the JW Foundation event wanted their guests to experience.

On a balmy evening in November, the sounds of the Australian Youth Choir fill the stairwell leading to the main floor of the Beyond the Veil event. Wearing white and beige, the choir members are stationed on the left and right of each step, creating space for the guests to walk between, amid the song of angelic voices. 

Walking into the cocktail hour on the first floor, the black and white dress code is striking, and the 100 guests are dressed to the nines. Freshly shucked oysters and Penfolds champagne flow freely from the hands of lace and pearl-adorned servers as tuxedoed men, and ladies in long gowns, mingle between five blossoming cherry trees. 

A DJ brings a contemporary edge to the room, matched by an array of David Bromley artworks that adorn the walls. Performers on stilts tend to the indoor foliage with gold watering cans as an immersive act around the guests. At the other end of the opulent space, ballet dancers draped in flowing white fabric move in synchrony, performing before a display bearing the JW Foundation’s emblem. It is this organisation that has drawn the well-heeled patrons together, uniting them in support of a shared philanthropic vision. 

Melbourne-based Jonathan Webber is the founder of the new non-for-profit Foundation and has big plans to make the organisation a modern force in philanthropy. Scott Watters, founder of LifeChanger Foundation, is also in attendance. Watters is a tireless advocate for youth mental health, and tonight his organisation is the charity partner of the J W Foundation’s inaugural event. 

Beyond the Veil is the first of five spectacles the J W Foundation plans to execute by the end of 2025, supported by brand partners such as Atlantic Group and Penfolds. The objective is to raise funds for causes close to the heart of Webber and his network of philanthropists, primarily focusing on family and domestic violence, homelessness, and youth development in disadvantaged communities. Those causes are personal to Webber as he experienced domestic abuse as a teenager. 

“I felt it was time to take a deliberate and focused approach to addressing some of the critical social challenges affecting our community, particularly the plight of women and children impacted by domestic violence and growing concerns around youth mental health. These issues are deeply personal to me, shaped by my own journey.” 

Webber says this event was funded solely by his companies, “to ensure the sentiment remained pure and the impact strong.”  

The property development professional is determined to ‘modernise’ philanthropy and wants future JW Foundation events to reflect a similar progressive aesthetic to the one showcased through Beyond the Veil. “Giving back and events have become stagnant. We’ve all been to that black tie event where we sit around a round table, see the same things, the same performers.” 

Eschewing the traditional round-table format, Webber and his creative director orchestrated a dramatic centrepiece: a single, candlelit table designed to seat 100 guests in an atmosphere of intimate grandeur. During the cocktail hour, the table remained concealed, heightening anticipation. After the ballet performance, a theatrical reveal drew back the ‘veil,’ revealing the stunning dining space draped in luxurious fabrics. Guests were guided to their seats as violinist Yena Choi performed. The evening featured a meticulously curated three-course dinner by the Atlantic Group, paired with Penfolds wines. The opulence didn’t end there — throughout the meal, performers stationed on elevated platforms stood statue-like before evolving into living works of art, adorned with intricate gold body paint. 

“The event was a celebration of creative arts and performance, designed to champion and support local artists,” says Webber. “A highlight was the extraordinary display of David Bromley’s iconic works, showcased in the very home that once belonged to him — a nod to his artistic journey and a gesture in support of a charity deeply meaningful to him.” 

Though the artists hailed from the local community, the event’s grandeur was inspired by international influences. 

“I’ve drawn inspiration from events I’ve attended in cultural hubs like London and New York. In Australia, we often embrace a more reserved approach. We wanted to infuse our work with that ethereal, unbridled passion I’ve witnessed abroad.” 

The 36-year-old says $100,000 of artwork was displayed on the evening and available through an online auction post event including five David Bromley contemporary art pieces, one of which was donated from Webber’s personal collection. The funds from the auction, and raised by private donation on the night, and since, went directly to JW Foundation partner charity LifeChanger, Webber says, an organisation he greatly admires. 

“I had several insightful conversations with Scott at LifeChanger about their remarkable efforts in addressing mental health and their dedication to creating programs that support children who have endured significant domestic and social challenges,” says Webber. 

“Their holistic approach to fostering resilience and empowering young individuals resonates deeply with our own values and ethics.” 

Engage and donate at jwfoundation.com.au