Port of Brisbane raises more than $30,000 for Friends with Dignity

THE Port of Brisbane announced it had raised $31,236 for its 2020-21 employee charity, Friends with Dignity, this financial year.

Friends with Dignity is a volunteer-run non-profit charity. It provides practical programs to assist survivors of domestic violence in collaboration with refuge and crisis centres

PBPL was joined by Friends with Dignity representatives, Manuela, Jay and Peggy, who lent a hand at PBPL’s fortnightly sausage sizzle for the announcement.

PBPL CEO Roy Cummins said the total was raised through employee fundraising initiatives as well as the company’s annual stakeholder survey.

“Port of Brisbane’s had a very long track record of supporting the local community, and every year our people nominate an Employee Charity to get behind – this year being Friends with Dignity,” he said.

“Fundraising was more challenging this year due to COVID, but I’m proud to say that didn’t stop us from thinking outside the box and coming up with some great fundraising initiatives.”

Mr Cummins said the team at the operations base raised more than $3000 through scrap-metal recycling.

“Our environment team led the Containers for Change Program, collecting 13,300 bottles from our workplaces and raising $1330.  This is on top of an enormous effort from our crew onboard the TSHD Brisbane who collected and deposited containers at ports along the Queensland coast during their travels,” Mr Cummins said.

“I’d also like to thank the wider port community for buying up big at our fortnightly sausage sizzles, participating in the inaugural Fort to Port Fun Run, and for participating in our annual Pulse Check Survey – these funds also go to Friends with Dignity.

Mr Cummins said other employee initiatives and direct contributions raised close to $4000.

“In recognition of these efforts and to further support our 2020-21 employee charity, Port of Brisbane is also very pleased to match the money raised by our people, taking the grand total to $31,236,” he said.

“Domestic violence is a scourge in our community, and we have been very proud to partner with Friends with Dignity, who work at the grassroots to help victims of domestic and family violence rebuild their lives with dignity.  We look forward to continuing to support the work they do in the future.”