Back to: 2008 Archive media releases

17 March 2008

Westpac matches $1 million in employee donations

Westpac employees gave more than $1 million to charity last year – donations that have just been matched dollar for dollar by the Bank under its Matching Gifts program.

Westpac's Head of Community Involvement, 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.

"Westpac supports the charities that our employees support by matching, dollar for dollar, their donations to Australian charities," Ms Brown said.

"In 2007 Westpac has supported a water development and sanitation project in Papua New Guinea through World Vision, men's health through Movember and breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

"However it's not just the big charities that benefit. Through Matching Gifts, Westpac supports important, local grass roots organisations such as Zoe's Place, which assists families in Queensland with children suffering life threatening illnesses."

Ms Brown said since Westpac's Matching Gifts program began in December 1998 almost $15 million had been donated to more than 1,100 charities by employees and the bank.

"This year, more than 450 charities received donations from Westpac employees – an increase of 50 on the previous year," she said.

The top 10 charities supported by Westpac employees account for 34 per cent of funds donated, with World Vision again receiving the most support.

For further information on Westpac's involvement in the community visit www.westpac.com.au/community

Westpac Matching Gifts Top 10 Charities

1. World Vision
2. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
3. Oxfam Australia
4. National Breast Cancer Foundation
5. Movember
6. The Salvation Army
7. Zoe's Place*
8. Leukaemia Foundation of Australia*
9. Cancer Council NSW
10. Youth Off The Streets*

*New to the top 10 list this year.

More infomation on Westpac Matching Gifts