Matching Gifts Program Tops $30 Million in Bank Donations

Banking Group, Westpac and its staff have donated more than $4 million to some 600 Australian-based charities as part of its 2012 Matching Gifts program.

Westpac says the 2012 funds take the total to $30.7 million for 1,600 charities over the last 13 years.

Announcing the 2012 figures, Westpac says the Matching Gifts program is Westpac’s largest corporate giving program and was the first of its kind to be introduced amongst Australian banks.

Westpac says its employees choose the pace and direction of giving from the bank with Westpac matching donations made by employees, dollar for dollar, to any tax deductible registered charity over the previous year.

Christine Parker, Group Executive Human Resources & Corporate Affairs said that the Matching Gifts program had been a great success and that it would make a substantial difference for those in need.

“The Matching Gifts program is our largest community program and this means for the last 13 years, Westpac and its employees have donated on average $45,000 a week to charities all over Australia.

“We’re proud to support our employees’ generosity this way. We find it’s one of the most democratic ways for us to decide how we direct our philanthropic dollar and support the passions and interests of our employees at the same time.

“By matching our employees’ donations we are not only making an immense contribution to charities right across the country, but also bringing our people closer to their communities,“ Parker said.

Charities and appeals benefiting from the 2012 Matching Gift payment included The Salvation Army, Oxfam Australia, Mission Australia and local grassroots charity organisations including Little Heroes Foundation in North Adelaide, Cape York Aboriginal Charitable Trust and Wheeling & Able in Newcastle.