PIF hopes to raise $270k for Children's charity

THE Property Industry Foundation is hoping to raise more than $270,000 from this year's National Hard Hat Day on Friday, June 20, with early support up by 100% compared to last year.

National Hard Hat Day is PIF’s second major fundraiser for the year, following the Charity Yachting Regatta in March which raised more than $450,000.

This year’s proceeds will be donated to the Salvation Army’s Oasis College, which provides education courses to disadvantaged young people, including the prevocational program Get Skilled for Work. Last year’s National Hard Hat Day raised more than $240,000 which helped fund a building refurbishment program for the Barnardos Penrith Family & Children’s Centre and donations to other children’s charities.

National Hard Hat Day encourages everyone in the property industry to donate at least an hour’s pay to children’s charity.

So far, more than 70 companies have registered for the day – a massive jump in last year’s pre-commitments, and already 25% higher than the total number of businesses which took part last year.

So far AMP Capital Investors, Brookfield Multiplex, CB Richard Ellis, Lend Lease and Mirvac, have committed to participating in National Hard Hat Day.

Some of the highest fundraisers in 2007 were St Hilliers, Valad Property Group, Australand and Mirvac.

PIF’s chairman Brendan Crotty said businesses encouraged workers to get involved in a variety of ways.

“So many businesses get behind the fundraiser, not only by matching donations dollar for dollar, but by hosting morning teas and running raffles or fancy hard hat parades.

“This has helped National Hard Hat Day go from strength to strength in the past few years with donations growing at a rate of around 10% per annum,” he added.

Australian Property Journal