Charitable Foundation 2013 Round Up
We are proud to announce that at the conclusion of our grants programme for 2013 the Nelson Alexander Charitable Foundation has increased funds distribution, from the previous year by 25%, distributing a total of $262,462 into our local community.
We provided support to a number of long term partners including Redkite, Fareshare, Melbourne City Mission, Orygen Youth Health and the Warwick Foundation but also supported many individuals who made contact for the first time via our network of agents.
A highlight for the Foundation occurred in February when we harnessed the energy of a trending phenomenon on Facebook where “Likes” on a photo would generate an outcome. The idea was ambitious. It proposed that if we reached 50,000 “Likes” on a photo of our Managing Director, Nelson Alexander would donate $50,000 to Hanover – whose mission is to empower people who are homeless, or at imminent risk of becoming so. It was a simple strategy, which we felt would generate substantial awareness of the work both our Charitable Foundation and Hanover undertakes within the community. We reached and exceeded our goal within 10 hours and the following morning a cheque was presented to the CEO of Hanover for $62,595.
Another highlight was when a team of staff participated in the Melbourne City Mission’s Sleep at the G, it was a fantastic experience, which offered us a glimpse of the struggle it is to be homeless in our city.
We continued our involvement in producing meals at the Fareshare kitchen in Abbotsford with a number of groups involved in their corporate volunteering programme. Along with regularly serving breakfast to the clients of St Mary’s House of Welcome in Fitzroy.
Once again a team participated in Orygen Youth Health’s major fundraiser “Suit Up & Ride” and although not competitive had a great time competing alongside corporate Melbourne in raising funds and awareness of youth mental health issues within our community.
Our staff are very proud of the support the Foundation provides to our community, it is a strong expression of our corporate values: maintaining deep connections with our community, being trustworthy, doing the right thing, acting with integrity and encouraging staff participation in community service and we are delighted to have once again been awarded the REIV – Community Service Award in 2013.