Media Release

4 December 2006
 

BUSINESS URGED TO GIVE MORE DURING AUSTRALIAN GIVING WEEK

DECEMBER 4-10, 2006

AUSTRALIAN businesses are being urged to think of some of the simple ways they can give more to their community as Australian Giving Week kicks off around the country - and a list of 50 tips has been prepared to give them a kick-start.

The list of 50 Ways for Business to Give to the Community this Christmas is designed to highlight how businesses can play a more active role in building a better community. Ideas include:

  • Making a donation to a community group through the free online donations service provided at the Australian Giving Centre - listing more than 850 current appeals
  • Buying Christmas trees, Christmas cards and Christmas gifts and hampers that benefit community groups
  • Making a plan to contribute the company's key skills, goods or office space to community groups in 2007
  • Offering to link to a community group on the company's website, or to send out the group's flyer with the company's Christmas mail-out
  • Encouraging staff to join a community board/committee and allowing them time out to make a meaningful contribution to the groups they support
  • Running a workplace appeal to collect money, goods or food for a community group (such as a foodbank) that can use them to help others
The list is part of a suite of giving resources that has been posted on a new website at www.givingweek.com.au. The site has been launched as part of Australian Giving Week - an event being held from December 4-10 that aims to catalyse people to take action and make a difference to the community in the lead-up to Christmas and beyond.

The site also includes a practical "help sheet" to help companies develop their own giving, partnerships and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies.

Other activities organised as part of Australian Giving Week, which is an initiative of www.ourcommunity.com.au (publisher of the Business Community Intelligence CSR newsletter) and is supported by Westpac, include:

  • The release of the Australian Giving Card - a Christmas card supported by Australia Post that keeps on giving by ensuring $2 from each purchase is handed on to a community group, with beneficiaries chosen by the sender or the recipient
  • The launch of the Australian Giving Week Auction, which will see the personal items of 14 Australian luminaries - including Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Sir Gustav Nossal, Olympian Grant Hackett and best-selling author Bryce Courtenay - go under the hammer for the benefit of selected community groups.
CEO of www.ourcommunity.com.au Dr Rhonda Galbally AO said: "Community groups need support every week of the year but with Australian Giving Week we are encouraging people to take some small, simple steps that can have an amazing ripple effect in the wider community and have a year-long impact."

Westpac Group Executive Mike Pratt said: "Australian Giving Week is about providing ideas and encouraging people to connect with community groups in line with Westpac's enduring strategy of community involvement that is based on tradition while innovative in approach."

Media Information:

More information, including the list of '50 Ways for Business to Give', is online at www.givingweek.com.au, or contact Rhonda Galbally on (03) 9320 6809, or 0419 399 655 or email to rhondag@ourcommunity.com.au.