Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) raised over $6000 for the AFA Foundation during the AFA VISION conference (the AFA Conference).

The funds will be donated to Foodbank and other charity partners and will enable Foodbank to provide over 10,000 meals to Australians in need.

Foodbank helps Australians experiencing food insecurity. Donations help source and rescue 40 million kilograms of food to distribute to vital community pantries and dining halls, mobile soup vans, emergency hampers and breakfast or lunch programs and schools.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur said Foodbank’s recently released Foodbank Hunger Report 2020, which provides a snapshot of Australia’s growing hunger problem has revealed that COVID-19 has increased the demand for food relief within Australia, with overall demand up by 47 per cent.

“What this tells us is that those who were already struggling are now doing it tougher and have been joined by people who’ve never experienced hunger before,” she said.

As this year’s AFA Conference provides delegates with four-month digital access to sessions, the AFA Conference Foodbank campaign will remain open until 13 November 2020. Donations may be made via the AFA Conference website at  https://www.afaconference.com.au/community

Over 660 delegates registered for  the AFA’s first virtual conference, which ran from 17-18 October 2020. The conference featured a program of on-demand and live events that provided up to 36 hours of CPD-accredited content, four months of on-demand access to content, more than 35 live speakers, a series of masterclasses and a virtual event and more than 30 partners and exhibitors. Delegates have access to the content until 12 February 2021.

AFA CEO Philip Kewin said, “We thank all those who supported and participated in our first virtual conference and also extend our thanks to our community, which dug deep once again to support the AFA Foundation.”

The post AFA VISION Conference raises over $6000 for charity partners appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 AFA Foundation Grants Program (the Grants Program).

Nine local charities from around the country were chosen from 25 submissions to receive a grant of between $2,000 and $5,000 each from the AFA Foundation.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur said, “We were very pleased to see so many submissions this year, for charities right across Australia, including remote and regional locations, plus our very first submission from Tasmania.”

The Grants Program recipients include:

• Mama Lanas Community Foundation, NSW
• Goulburn Valley Family Care, VIC
• Pete’s Pantry, QLD
• The Pyjama Foundation, QLD
• Cancer Council – Gawler Relay for Life, SA
• Jamestown and District Royal Flying Doctor Service support group, SA
• A Paw Up, TAS
• Free 3D Hands, VIC
• St Patricks Community Support Centre, WA

Ms Sarah-Le Lacheur said that while fundraising opportunities have been limited this year, the AFA Foundation Committee, with the support of the AFA Executive, made the decision to continue with the 2020 Grant round.

“Restrictions imposed by COVID-19 mean the AFA is currently unable to host face-to-face events, which is where most of our fundraising traditionally takes place,” she said.

Ms Sarah-Le Lacheur said the AFA Foundation is now exploring new ways of fundraising using online donation capabilities and virtual fundraising events, like the Geoff Ramm ‘Celebrity Service’ webinar in July.

AFA CEO Philip Kewin said the AFA Foundation has reported that a number of the Grants Program recipients provide food or meal services, which are vital for those who have been impacted by COVID-19 changes to their income and employment status.

“It’s encouraging that our members are recognising and championing charities within their communities that are going the extra mile in these extremely difficult times,” he said. “The AFA Foundation has also reported that members are staying closely connected to the charities they have nominated, which allows us all to understand and appreciate the impact that the grants are having.”

Launched in 2019, the Grants Program offers AFA members the opportunity to nominate local charity partners that would benefit from a small donation, but might face challenges in finding funding via other avenues such as government assistance or larger charities. The nominated charity must have deductible gift recipient status and those nominating must be members of the AFA.

The post AFA Foundation supports local charities via 2020 Grants Program appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) Foundation has announced it has reached a significant milestone, donating $2 million to date, to a range of charities across Australia.

AFA Foundation Chair, Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, said, “We are extremely proud to have raised over $2 million so far and we look forward to continuing to give back to those who need our help, while fostering community spirit and respect for the financial advice profession.”

Established in 2007, the AFA Foundation is an ongoing supporter of organisations such as MS Research Australia, Lifeline, Little Heroes and Make A Wish Foundation, all of which provide ongoing, life changing support.

“We are also responsive to immediate needs,” Ms Sarah-Le Lacheur said, “such as supporting Rural Aid to buy bales of hay and cows to help our farmers hit by drought and floods, and donating to Lifeline’s Community Recovery Program to support those affected by Australia’s devastating bushfires.”

The AFA Foundation recently provided Lifeline with a $10,000 donation towards the Program, which provides immediate psychosocial and ongoing counselling support to individuals and communities, as well as leading longer-term recovery through rebuilding or re establishing key community networks and support structures.

The AFA Foundation also supports local charities via its Grants Program. Launched in 2019, the Grants Program offers AFA members the opportunity to nominate local charity partners that would benefit from a small donation, but might face challenges in finding funding via other avenues such as government assistance or larger charities. The 2020 Grants Program, which will offer grants between $2,000 and $5,000, is open until 30 April 2020.

AFA CEO Philip Kewin said the AFA Foundation is a core pillar of the AFA and demonstrates member commitment to supporting the wider community and the greater good of society.

“The AFA Foundation works hard to make a meaningful difference to individuals and families in need. This creates opportunities which foster community spirit and connection within the financial advice profession,” he said.

Chaired by Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur and represented via State Chairs in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania, the AFA Foundation raises financial contributions from members through national events such as the AFA Roadshow and the annual AFA Conference, as well as through some local communities of practice education seminars and networking events. The largest AFA Foundation fund-raising event to date was the 2018 Kokoda Trail which raised over $117,000.

The post AFA Foundation reaches $2m milestone appeared first on AdviserVoice.