Thousands of staff were involved in more than 270 community activities during the Macquarie Group’s 2018 Foundation Week.
The fifth annual Foundation Week was held globally in November, with contributions from Macquarie staff and the Macquarie Group Foundation expected to surpass the $A2.3 million in financial support that was donated to community organisations during the same period last year.
In just one week, thousands of Macquarie staff were involved in more than 270 activities across 40 offices supporting 187 non-profit organisations.
This year’s theme encouraged staff to think about the different ways they can give back to the causes they feel passionately about – whether that be through giving their time, money or skills. Staff made the most of the ‘2 for 1’ matching incentive, available for team fundraising events during Foundation Week, with amounts up to A$5,000 double matched by the Macquarie Group Foundation. This year, the Foundation introduced ‘donations for doers’, giving a financial donation is recognition of volunteer hours.
Staff across the world raised funds and volunteered their time across a wide spectrum of cause areas, from homelessness, to disability support, environmental and climate change, animal rescue, mental health, medical research, education and refugee and asylum seeker support services.
View our photo gallery for a snapshot of the diverse Foundation Week activities held across 41 Macquarie offices between 3-11 November 2018.
Volunteering with Bird of Passage, providing food for local homeless people.
A gathering of the most people dressed as elephants in one place broke records while also raising money for Batyr, a youth mental health charity.
A ‘Greatest Shave’ competition raised money for The Leukaemia Foundation.
A makeup masterclass at Mecca Cosmetica’s flagship Sydney store supported The Hunger Project.
Staff tasted a range of whisky in support of Soldier On and the National Centre for Childhood Grief.
A Melbourne team invited colleagues and guests to a crowdfunding event, supporting Melbourne Indigenous Transition School, Monash Cystic Fibrosis and Life Changer.
The Ultimate Grape Off featured wine tasting as part of a fundraiser for the Black Dog Institute.
An ‘I Bark with Macquarie’ event gave staff the opportunity to meet rescue dogs and raise money for the RSPCA.
Staff in Perth participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in support of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.
A ‘Helping Hands’ auction raised money for Cambodia Family Support.
OzHarvest benefited from staff volunteering as food rescue van assistants as well as organsing a fundraising breakfast BBQ.
Staff prepared lunch for over 200 adults and children at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
A fundraising evening featuring singers and a symphony supported the Symphony for Life Foundation.
A games night had the twin benefit of facilitating online fun while also raising money for conservation and environmental protection.
Workshops held at Macquarie’s office in partnership with Fitted for Work assisted women who needed help with workplace familiarisation, confidence building and preparation for interviews.
Members of the Graduate Volunteer Network in Sydney sold biodegradable pots in support of the Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund.
Staff roasted different single origin coffees at in-office Macquarie cafes for each day of Foundation Week in support of autism charity Giant Steps.
Staff in Melbourne, along with colleagues in EMEA, participated in a social run to raise money for a drought relief campaign.
A ‘beep test’ was held in support of Heart for Kids.
A Greatest Shave competition raised money for The Leukaemia Foundation.
Staff participated in Successful Career Path mentoring with BreakThrough NY (BTNY) scholars.
Staff made and sold Chicago style hot dogs in support of Camp Out From Cancer.
Staff welcomed locals from the Green Bronx Machine farmers market who sold produce to staff raising money to be invested back into the program.
Staff held a ping pong event in support of LifeWorks Austin, a local charity with a goal to end youth homelessness in Austin by 2020.
Staff held a competitive but fun fitness event in support of Girls Inc.
Staff in Jacksonville and New York held fundraising events in support of the International African American Museum. In New York, staff heard from Mayor Joe Riley of Charleston who has been a champion for the museum’s opening for 18 years.
Staff volunteered at the local Police Athletic League after-school program, helping children prepare and package baked goods which will be sold to raise much-needed funds for the program.
Staff in Jacksonville and New York held fundraising events in support of the International African American Museum. In Jacksonville, staff heard from Director of Education and Engagement from the museum Brenda Tindal.
Staff volunteered in the America Needs You Career Day.
Staff held a bake sale.
Staff in London and New York, in collaboration with Opening Doors London and Sage in New York, held a LGBTQ+ High Tech High Tea for seniors with a presentation how to combat loneliness using technology and CyberSecurity.
Staff volunteered with Senior Planet NYC, helping senior Americans by teaching them about technology and social media.
The Wines of the world featured wine tasting as part of a fundraiser for Breakthrough NY and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
Staff held a Painting for a Purpose event supporting Leash on Life USA.
Staff hosted the Read Ahead creative dancing volunteer project.
Staff from the Families@Macquarie employee network group held a Fall Festival with TeamKids.
Staff volunteered with the Read Ahead, a reading-based mentoring program for elementary school students.
Staff members in Hong Kong and Singapore made and sold over 2000 tins of lip balm in support of education for children displaced by the conflict in Myanmar.
Preparing chai and other snacks for colleagues in support of Feeding India.
Staff held a diversity film screening raising funds for Solidarity for Asian Human Rights and Culture.
Staff volunteered at Mera Parivar, a school for slum children in India.
In collaboration with Roundtable India Volunteering, staff volunteered at a local primary school in Pada, painting murals, playing games and music with the students.
Staff volunteered at the Chai Wan Baptist Church, playing with children who are supported by the ChickenSoup Foundation.
Staff held a diversity film screening raising funds for Solidarity for Asian Human Rights and Culture.
Staff held a ‘MacqKamayan’, bringing colleagues together to share food in support of various Philippines charities.
Staff volunteered at a school supporting the work of the non-profit organisation the Payatas Orione Foundation.
Staff and volunteers from Juan Portrait volunteers organised a watercolor painting workshop, supporting the Payatas Orione Foundation.
Staff heard from champion wrestler Divya Kakran, who shared her inspiring medal-winning journey, in support of Olympic Gold Quest.
Staff held a Singapore Ten Pin Bowling Competition supporting CARE Singapore and iC2 PrepHouse.
Teams volunteered to clean their local neighbourhood and will continue to do this on a monthly basis.
Staff held tennis bootcamps with donations for the lesson going to Education In Sight.
Staff visited the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), spending time with residents and learning about vital work the organisation does.
Following a bike ride around Taiwan, staff presented funds raised to Kid’s BookHouse and Taipei Orphan Welfare Fundation.
Volunteering at Kids’ Door, an organisation providing after-school services for local children.
A pie in the face event supported One Dollar Glasses.
Staff held a charity morning tea in support of Pieta House.
Staff from Reading, Dublin and London participated in the Active CAF event in support of The Running Charity (London), Parkinson’s UK (Reading) and Pieta House (Dublin).
A beer tasting tour of Scotland was held in support of Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity.
Staff participated in the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) Blindfold Run.
Table football tournament raising money for Bateau de Geneve.
Staff supported a local family in need by disposing all the old and desolate furniture in their house and assembling new furniture.
Staff baked and sold cakes in support of Bateau de Geneve.
Staff held a delicious bake sale in support of the Stuart Low Trust.
Staff held a Paper Plane Challenge in support of Home of Hope for Girls ‘Back to School 2019’ initiative.
An iPhone repair station was opened, fixing phones and raising money for Cracked It, a social enterprise phone repair service staffed by young offenders.
Staff in London and New York, in collaboration with Opening Doors London and Sage in New York, held a LGBTQ+ High Tech High Tea for seniors with a presentation how to combat loneliness using technology and CyberSecurity.
A dodge ball tournament supported of ReachOut.
Staff rolled up their sleeves and volunteered at Lumpy Hill Adventure Playground in Islington.
Staff hosted a career insight visit with young people from Dallaglio Rugby Works.
Staff held a spin cycling event in support of One Dollar Glasses.
Staff from Reading, Dublin and London participated in the Active CAF event in support of The Running Charity (London), Parkinson’s UK (Reading) and Pieta House (Dublin).
Staff tested their spelling skills in a spelling bee in support of British Dyslexia Association.
The team visited the Kannerland Institution, which provides education for children outside of the family environment and donated bags of clothes.
Staff completed a basic renovation of an apartment which is provides support for homeless people.
