Aside from his recent foray into the business of sport, with a controlling stake in the Perth Wildcats basketball team, Western Australian business identity Jack Bendat has now confined himself to more low-key charitable pursuits. “I have three main things going at the moment, and it’s all about putting back into the community,” he told WA Business News. Those three things are: his work in helping to raise funding for a cancer wing at St John of God Hospital in Subiaco; his new sporting love, the Wildcats; and his continuing childrens’ charity work. He is also patron of the WA Opera and proudly proclaims that it is now self supporting and making money, with attendances and sponsorship at record highs. “The cancer centre is my biggest desire and we have raised $15 million to date and are targeting another $5 million,” he said He is a little disappointed at the attitude of some of Perth’s corporate community to his cancer fund-raising activities but some notable exceptions – like Wesfarmers’ contribution of $2 million – keep him rattling his can. Mr Bendat has a long-term love of basketball, which continued into his business career. He is also working with the Lighthouse Foundation to raise $2.5 million to build five houses for homeless youth.