Central Coast Bendigo Bank branches have received a big thumbs up from Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch for pumping $1.5M into the Central Coast community over the years.
“Local branches have been supporting grassroots community initiatives to assist families experiencing domestic violence, help children and youth in need, fund recreational activities in our community, and services for our older locals to use and enjoy,” Tesch said.
“We don’t often hear about banks supporting local community, yet that is exactly what Bendigo Bank achieves, making our Central Coast spirit even stronger.”
Tesch said Bendigo Bank’s “profit-with-purpose” model aims to filter profits directly back into the community, and Australia wide the bank had put over $24M back into communities in the past year.
“This funding has been invested in sport and recreation, arts, culture and heritage, the environment, health and research, emergency services, education and research, and building a better Australia from the bottom up through local investments,” she said.
Tesch said branches at East Gosford, Lisarow and Kincumber had made multiple contributions to the region in 2020.
“Over the past two years $150,000 has been granted to the domestic violence initiative, Relief Beyond Crisis, which is managed from the Narara Community Centre,” she said.
“Elsie’s Retreat, supported by the Wyoming East Gosford Lionesses, was granted $30,000 to assist in funding necessary Palliative Care equipment for the new ward at Gosford Hospital and Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) received $50,000 to help secure a long-term tenure and ensure RYSS is accessible to local youth.”
Tesch said Central Coast Kids in Need was granted $15,000 to support local families experiencing the stress of having a sick child.
Group CEO for Bendigo Bank at East Gosford, Lisarow and Kincumber, Michael Bell, said the bank had first opened doors at East Gosford 20 years ago as major banks began to desert the region.
“We are owned by local shareholders and the charter for a community bank is for profits to go back to the community,” he said.
“No more than 20 per cent of profits are paid as a dividend – the balance goes into running the business and back into community.”
Bell said the bank regularly sponsored community events such as the Bay to Bay, Cancer Council’s Relay for Life and surf clubs in the region.
Meanwhile, Ettalong branch has recently provided $50,000 to help the Umina Skate Park Precinct upgrades, $34,000 to Peninsula PCYC, $80,000 to Peninsula Men’s Shed and ongoing funding to Brisbane Water Secondary College.
Tesch said the new year was the perfect time to reflect on actively giving back to the community.
“Bendigo Bank’s funding initiatives and profit-with-purpose model show us just how easy it is for all of us to contribute every day to a better and stronger community,” she said.
“We can all put our money where our mouth is and with a simple switch of bank we can (make) a remarkable difference on our community and local quality of life.”
Source:
Media release, Jan 8
Member for Gosford,
Liesl Tesch