As Jeans for Genes celebrates 30 years of fundraising for the vital work of Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI)– there is one partner who has been there to help us innovate along the way.

Tyro Payments is an Australian company offering fast EFTPOS solutions to more than 66,000 customers across the country – including Jeans for Genes. The best part is that Tyro supply all the machines that are used on Jeans Genes Day every year for free.

When Tyro first partnered with Jeans for Genes in 2021, donating 50 payment terminals, it was at a pivotal time, which started many years ago simply by asking school kids and office workers to wear jeans and donate a gold coin. We then added the simple sale of pens and badges out on the street to bolster fundraising. Thirty years later, a lot has changed.

Jeans for Genes campaign manager Greg Noel-Butterworth said over the last three decades, a lot of charity campaigns have come and gone but it has been our ability to continue reinventing that has kept the charity going.

“We are proud of our ability to stay relevant,’’ he said.

While wearing jeans is still extremely popular, CMRI knew it needed to expand. Over the last few years, they started selling items like T-shirts, hoodies, hats – even a hooded blanket!

Sales were going well – but then, the pandemic hit. No one carried cash – and in came Tyro.

“Tyro was a real lifesaver,’’ Mr Noel-Butterworth said. “They gave our supporters a safe and contactless way for people to buy Jeans for Genes merchandise. But it was equally as important for people to have a quick and easy way to do a one-off donation. We’d be lost without them.’’

Not only is Tyro a committed partner in supplying Jeans for Genes EFTPOS terminals each year for our fundraisers on the street, but their staff hold Jeans for Genes fundraising events and also volunteer on the big day.

Jon Davey, CEO of Tyro Payments said: “We are extremely proud to be able support the important work of CMRI through our partnership with Jeans for Genes. From gold coins to quick contactless payments, it’s a privilege to play a small part in helping this much-loved Australian organisation continue changing the lives of children and families thirty years on.”