Media releases
The Westpac Group gives $2 million to charities via Matching Gifts
31 March 2011
The Westpac Group has this week given more than $2 million to around 600 Australian-based charities as part of its 2011 Matching Gifts program.
The Matching Gifts program sees The Westpac Group match dollar-for-dollar any donations made by its employees to charity organisations over the previous year*. Matching Gifts is Westpac’s largest corporate giving program and was the first of its kind to be introduced amongst Australian banks.
This year’s Matching Gifts program saw the Westpac Group match staff donations to charities right across the country, from the $178,306 given to the QLD Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund to the $42, 446 given to the Mullaloo Surf Life Saving club.
The 2011 Matching Gifts donation means that The Westpac Group has given more than $26.5 million to over 1500 charities since 1998.
Westpac Group General Manager Corporate Affairs and Sustainability David Bell said that the Matching Gifts program had been a great success and that it would make a real difference those in need.
“The Matching Gifts program is a wonderful way for The Westpac Group to show its appreciation for the immense contribution made by charities in neighbourhoods all over Australia,” Mr Bell said.
“Charities are at the heart of our community - these groups, and the volunteers who run them, deserve all the thanks and support we can give them.
“Westpac employees have given very generously to various appeals and causes during the past twelve months, and Westpac is proud to match these donations dollar-for-dollar,” Mr Bell said.
Charities and appeals benefiting from the 2011 Matching Gift payment of $2.05 million included The St George Foundation, World Vision Australia, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the QLD Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal and the Salvation Army NZ Earthquake Appeal.
The Westpac Group Matching Gift program is just part of Westpac’s wider commitment of supporting the areas and communities that we do business with.
As Australia's first bank, Westpac has been a proud supporter of local sporting, cultural and fundraising events for almost 200 years, helping to foster a strong community spirit across Australia.
Top recipients of the 2011 Westpac Group Matching Gifts program:
| Disaster appeal | Amount donated |
| QLD Premier's Disaster Relief Fund | $178,306** |
| Pakistan Floods - Oxfam Australia | $17,400 |
| NZ Earthquake 2010 - Salvation Army | $17,035 |
| RSPCA QLD | $12,886 |
| QLD/NSW Floods - Salvation Army | $8,025 |
| Charity name | Amount donated |
| St. George Foundation | $92,974 |
| BankSA and Staff Charitable Fund | $88,531 |
| World Vision Australia | $82,074 |
| Starlight Children's Foundation Australia | $61,508 |
| Multiple Sclerosis Ltd | $51,172 |
| Cancer Council NSW | $44,593 |
| Oxfam Australia | $43,327 |
| Mullaloo Surf Life Saving | $42,446 |
| The Salvation Army | $40,840 |
* To March 29, 2011 |