Media Release
May 24, 2010
The Our Community Foundation and Westpac have been applauded for their Community Leadership as part of the Rotary Community Service Awards.
The winners of the awards were announced at a gala event in Melbourne on May 20, 2010.
The awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the organisations and individuals who give of their time and financial resources to support those less fortunate or in need and to improve the community.
The awards also acknowledge the business partners that have demonstrated a commitment to corporate responsibility.
The Our Community Foundation received the award in recognition of the commission-free GiveNow.com.au online giving service. Westpac, which supports the service, was also acknowledged.
GiveNow.com.au is designed to inspire and transform giving in Australia, providing a website listing thousands of good causes and creative ways to give, a personalised donations tracking service and a free giving newsletter.
Its main purpose is to democratise giving in Australia - ensuring that even the tiniest community groups have the same access to safe, secure online donations technology as the largest groups. It is Our Community's belief that these small, often highly localised community groups are every bit as important to community life as the larger ones, and that they should be supported by their communities.
Through the support of Our Community and Westpac, the Our Community Foundation is able to offer the online donations service free to any community group in Australia, regardless of size or purpose or tax status.
The service is non-exclusive, non-binding and fee-free (only credit card fees are deducted from donations). This allows any community group with a bank account and the will to raise funds to take advantage of this important and rapidly growing mode of fundraising.
Currently more than 1600 community groups are listed on the site, with more than $13.5 million raised so far.
Rotary Community Leadership awards were also presented to community groups working in the areas of homelessness, youth services, the environment, mental health, emergency services and vocational support.
Find out more here.