 |  |  |
| ||||||||
| |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
| FIND AN ADVISER | INVESTMENT | INSURANCE | SUPERANNUATION |
| | Home | About AXA | AXA in the Community | |
AXA in the community
AXA Community Investment
At AXA, we believe we have a responsibility to support the local communities in which we conduct business and where our employees live and work.
AXA’s core business around the world is financial protection and helping people to cope with life’s unforeseen and sometimes unfortunate events. AXA believes that whilst you can’t plan for every eventuality in life, you can plan for living. Therefore, AXA’s community investment activities within Australia and New Zealand aims to assist families and children who are experiencing difficulties due to illness or are disadvantaged due to circumstances beyond their control, through sustainable solutions.
Strategic relationships have been developed with a number of community partners across the region including:
Australia:
 | | |
| | |
| | |
| |
New Zealand:
| | |
| ||
Asia – Hong Kong Red Cross, Hong Kong Health Education and Health Promotion Foundation Limited, Hong Kong Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied Association, Gawad Kalinga, World Vision, Singapore Red Cross and the Down Syndrome Association.
In recognition of AXA Hong Kong’s strong commitment to the community, we have been awarded the ‘Caring Company Logo’ by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service every year since 2002.
In 2008, AXA Australia participated in a benchmarking exercise in relation to Corporate Community Investment with the Australian and New Zealand members of the London Benchmarking Group. For the 2007 period, AXA reported a total contribution of $2.09m, comprising of donations and associated management costs.
AXA Charitable Trust
In July 2005, the AXA Charitable Trust was established, which led to the expansion of greater funding and volunteering opportunities. Strategic relationships formed with our partners include the following elements:
* Strategic partners are invited to apply for funding for multi-year projects consistent with AXA’s specified areas of impact.
* Key senior employees at AXA are actively involved with the Boards and Steering Committees of these community partners.
* These partners are invited to be actively involved with key employee engagement activities.
AXA partnered with the following strategic community organisations to deliver the following initiatives in 2008:
The Brotherhood of St Laurence - ‘Home Interaction Program for parents and Youngsters (HIPPY)
AUD$180,000 per annum for three years, to enable HIPPY to develop their capacity to effectively prepare for the expansion of the programme. AXA employees further contribute through participation in the HIPPY advisory committee, attendance of HIPPY graduation ceremonies and fundraising events. AXA’s support has directly enabled HIPPY to be successful in receiving a Federal grant for $36.2m over the next five years to roll out the programme to 50 sites nationally.
Ronald McDonald House (RMDH) - Collection Boxes programme
NZ$15,000 to fund the purchase of and the distribution of collection boxes. The money collected from these boxes will be shared among the RMDH houses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) - Peer Support Camps
NZ$21,500 to fund camps for blind children to promote independent living, social skills, sensory awareness and peer support.
The Salvation Army - AXA 614 Bus programme
Approx AUD$75,000 per annum for three years to fund the operational costs of an interactive bus, which aims to connect with young homeless people. This innovative bus has gained wide media exposure and well recognised in the streets of Melbourne. AXA employees volunteer on the bus by serving meals and interacting with these young people.
The Salvation Army - 614 Caravan programme
NZ$25,000 to fund the operational costs of a caravan which also aims to connect with young street people. AXA employees will get involved by serving meals and interacting with these disadvanatged youth.
The Smith Family - Learning for Life programme
AUD$50,000 per annum for three years to fund 25 tertiary scholarships to assist financially disadvantaged students with the costs of laptops and course materials. AXA employees volunteer by mentoring students and assisting with hamper packing and delivery at Christmas.
The Smith Family – Applied Research Project
AUD$100,000 per annum for three years to fund a research project to assist disadvantaged children to develop more effective behaviours towards money and the ability to integrate this into the pursuit of a productive and happy life.
AXA employees will further contribute through the provision of project and research support.
Starlight Children’s Foundation - Starlight Escapes programme
AUD$225,000 to fund the development and roll out of 20 Escapes to bring sick children and their families together for a much needed distraction from the stress of repeat hospitalisation. AXA employees volunteer at these Escapes to ensure that the children make the most of these special events.
Very Special Kids (VSK) - Life is for Living programme
AUD$231,534 to fund 300 bed nights at the VSK Hospice, which provides special palliative care for children with life threatening illnesses. AXA employees volunteer at the hospice during the VSK school holiday programmes and assist to fundraise during the annual VSK Piggy Bank Appeal.
In 2009 we anticipate committing over AUD$1.2 million to deliver worthy initiatives in the community, aimed at supporting those who are experiencing difficulties due to serious illness or are disadvantaged due to circumstances beyond their control.
AXA Hearts in Action
AXA ‘Hearts in Action’ is a global AXA Group community based volunteering programme that forges partnerships with local community organisations and enables employees to actively engage with the community by contributing their time and skills to make a difference. Globally over 15,000 AXA employees each year volunteer their time.
In 2008, over 1,600 Australian and New Zealand employees took part in community activities contributing over 5000 hours. Fundraising undertaken and initiated by employees are matched by the Charitable Trust.
AXA Grant Programme
In addition to funding selected projects and initiatives with our strategic community partners, a Grant Programme has been established to respond to applications for funds from other community organisations to support worthy initiatives which focuses on sick or disadvantaged children, poverty and homelessness.
|
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
