Australia's broking franchises are have been busy helping those less fortunate this Christmas.
Loan Market brokers in VIC and NSW collected more than 200 gifts for underprivileged kids as part of Ray White’s'Little Ray of Giving' charity program, while
Aussie Home Loans, will help feed thousands of homeless and needy people this Christmas with the donation of legs of hams to nine charities across the Eastern Seaboard.
The charities Aussie is helping this year include Mission Australia, Bill Crews’ Exodus Foundation, Salvation Army, Wesley Community Care,
Samaritans Foundation, Barnados and Food Bank NSW.
Aussie chairman John Symond, said “Aussie is delighted to help these great charities feed and support homeless and needy people across the Eastern Seaboard on this most important event in our calendar.
This Christmas will be the 14th occasion Aussie has provided this traditional staple for charities’ Christmas lunches for those less fortunate, he said.
Meanwhile, in Loan Market's second consecutive year of driving gift donations during the holiday period, Loan Market brokers were given gift suggestions and then brought the presents to the NSW and VIC Loan Market broker christmas parties held last week.
Loan Market NSW state manager Michael Karpathakis said he was extremely proud of his team of brokers and the Ray White network for supporting a charity program that would benefit children that are less fortunate over Christmas.
“We’re thrilled to help our Ray White business partners and their ‘Little Ray of Giving’ program as it is a meaningful way we can give back to the community and hopefully put some smiles on the faces of those who are doing it tough this Christmas,” said Karpathakis.
“We used our most recent PD days to communicate what these charities were asking for and for brokers to bring something to our Christmas party. Of the 90 brokers that attended the NSW party last week, each brought a gift. I’m so proud to see my team supporting this initiative so strongly,” he said.
A Ray White office, Ray White Allambie Heights, has run this programme for six years. In 2012, the network adopted the campaign and 100 offices ran it locally in its first year.
Recipients of the many gifts included young people in hospitals, disadvantaged children and disabled children.
Mr Karpathakis said gifts ranged from stuffed animals, clothes and various toys. The gifts were collected by a local Rotary and then given to the Salvation Army who would deliver the gifts to children.
In Victoria over 100 presents were dropped off to the Kmart Wishing Tree, an initiative by the Salvation Army. Loan Market Victoria State Manager Paul Henry said the gifts were from brokers, corporate staff and lender partners.
“Support for this cause came from everyone and putting over 100 gifts under the Kmart wishing tree was a rewarding feeling,” Mr Henry said.
