Media releases
The Westpac Group matches $1.5 million in employee donations to charity
25 March 2010
The Westpac Group will today match around $1.5 million of employee donations to Australian-based charities through its Matching Gifts program.
The Westpac Group's Head of Community Engagement, Samantha Brown, said Matching Gifts was the bank's largest corporate giving program and the first of its kind to be introduced among Australian banks.
“Through Matching Gifts, our employees can support charities that they feel passionate about and help those charities to make a genuine difference to local communities”, Ms Brown said.
"This year, approximately 600 charities received donations from Westpac, St.George, BankSA and BT Financial Group employees.
“The top 12 charities supported by Westpac Group employees account for one third of funds donated, with Oxfam Australia receiving the most support.
“Since the program’s inception, more than 1,250 Australian-based charities have received $22.5 million from employees and The Westpac Group”, Ms Brown said.
The Westpac Group has also recently unveiled an Australian banking first by agreeing to match microfinance loans by its employees to disadvantaged individuals in the Asia Pacific region and Indigenous Australia through a special new initiative with World Education Australia with a new Matching Loans program.
This initiative continues the evolution of The Westpac Group’s workplace giving program which has provided extensive support to a vast range of community organisations since it began more than 11 years ago.
Top twelve charities for Westpac Group employee donations in 2009/2010
- Oxfam Australia
- BankSA & Staff Charitable Fund
- World Vision Australia
- Multiple Sclerosis Ltd
- St.George Foundation
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- The Salvation Army
- Cancer Council NSW
- Movember Foundation
- Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia
- The Smith Family
- Cana Communities Inc.