ppm is a growing Wollongong business with an annual commitment of giving to the community.
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But it is Project Portfolio Management employees who choose where the money goes.
In the process they have done things like make a Christmas special for Kanahooka teenager Clara Bates. With Cerebral Palsy she was in urgent need of a new wheelchair and via the Disability Trust the company made an $8700 donation to make it possible.
When the 90 employees were asked what charities they would like to support in 2018 they chose Black Dog Institute, beyondblue, White Ribbon Australia and Kids with Cancer Foundation Australia.
Then recently at an annual ppm Evening of Recognition to acknowledge people who delivered great work the four winning project teams selected one of the charities to present with a $1500 donation.
A number of the projects recognised were completed at Port Kembla Coal Terminal.
ppm chief executive Troy McDonald said it was good to ask employees where they wanted the money to go.
“We did a survey of our employees. A lot of them been personally assisted by some of the charities and knew of their work,” he said.
Mr McDonald said everyone was bouyed by the impact they had made with Clara and wanted to keep making a difference.
“She has kept close to us and there has been quite a change in her life in terms of what she can do. She is enjoying some sports she couldn’t do before,” he said.
White Ribbon Australia's Doug Hearne said “these funds will help raise awareness about domestic and family violence. We eventually hope to end that as a social issue”.
beyondblue's Brett Saunders said the money would got to the 24 support service and other initiatives around mental health.
Black Dog Institute’s Lewis Blomfield said the funding would go towards education and clinical services to help treat mental illness.
All said it was great to see ppm and a growing number of businesses were seeing the value in supporting organisations opening up important conversations and providing support in such important areas.