Partnerships - Making Them Work
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Staff Fundraising
Staff fundraising can be an effective way to ensure staff are personally involved in social programs. Empowering staff to raise much-needed funds for community groups allows them to learn and apply new skills, which can then be applied in their day-to-day work. Allowing staff to demonstrate new skills while doing something meaningful for their community will also increase staff motivation and satisfaction.
Fundraising activities are limited only by the imagination: raffles, charity events, white elephant sales and auctions are only a few of the ways employees can raise funds. Remember to involve staff in the presentation of the funds. Media events with staff involvement can not only raise the profile of the business but also reward staff for their work.
An added motivation for staff can be for the business to match funds raised. This clearly demonstrates the business’s commitment to their community partner.
The Woolworths Care for Kids Appeal
The Woolworths CARE FOR KIDS Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital, Queensland, is an annual eight-week community-based fundraising campaign coordinated by Woolworths Queensland in conjunction with the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. The goal is to help sick and injured children throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales by providing funding for research, modern facilities (such as the five-storey Woolworths Medical Building), hi-tech equipment and training.
The Appeal is an example of a genuine partnership between a prominent company and a community cause. The majority of funds come from staff fund-raising activities involving the local community, such as sausage sizzles, raffles, and cake stalls. One of the most inspiring aspects is that most of these activities are organised and conducted by Woolworths’ staff in their own time. Hundreds of staff show a further commitment by nominating to contribute a regular deduction from their pay. Woolworths’ trade partners are also involved, participating and sponsoring special events such as the Woolworths CARE FOR KIDS Race Day, River Run and Golf Day.
Woolworths Queensland believes the great team spirit engendered by the Woolworths CARE FOR KIDS Appeal creates a warm and friendly atmosphere in Woolworths stores across Queensland and the Northern Rivers. The truly focused nature of the Appeal serves to further enhance the sense of 'family' that exists within all Woolies stores. The result- customers enjoy shopping at Woolworths, store managers benefit from the enthusiasm created and shareholders benefit from increased productivity and profits.
The Woolworths Queensland team is proud to show that one company can make a real difference to the lives of sick kids, while at the same time helping to build better local community relations and a better business.