Brad Fox

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) Foundation has raised $128,625 from member and partner donations at various events over the past year which is continuing to be distributed among several chosen charity partners.

AFA CEO, Brad Fox, said the AFA community continues to prove their generosity and commitment to helping those less fortunate. “Members and partners really value the opportunity and forum to make a difference to the lives of a variety of people. It is something the AFA deems very important.”

“By engaging with members and partners in raising awareness of chosen charities we continue to build on the community spirit the AFA is known for.”

AFA Foundation Chair, Pina Sciarrone said the AFA community should be congratulated for their work in supporting the Foundation. “We have been able to help several charities who provide crucial support for those in need. We believe our work in this area reflects the wishes of our members, who are very committed to ensuring the wellbeing of their local community, and the national community.”

The impact of the donations was brought to life at the 2014 AFA National Adviser Conference, where the AFA helped the Make-A-Wish foundation give 5-year-old Zavier Harper, who suffers from leukaemia, his wish to attend the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, and to meet his idol, rider Cal Crutchlow.

The other charities supported include the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia, Black Dog Institute, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Royal Hospital for Children, MND and Me, Little Heroes Foundation, Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish, Ronald McDonald House Hobart, Women’s Housing and Legacy.

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Brad Fox

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) Foundation has raised $12,000 this week for charities, during the first three AFA National Roadshow events held in Hobart, Adelaide and Perth.

With record attendances in Hobart and Perth, which was sold out, attendees heeded the call from AFA CEO Brad Fox to strengthen the financial advice community’s links to the general public through the AFA Foundation.

The AFA Foundation has raised around $600,000 for charities over the past eight years and beneficiaries this week are Ronald McDonald House in Tasmania, The Smith Family in South Australia and Legacy in Western Australia.

“The financial advice community is consistently generous in supporting the community through the AFA Foundation,” Mr Fox said. “Their donations make a real difference. For example, the gift in Tasmania will fund nearly 20 nights accommodation for families in need as their kids go through vital medical treatments. Ronald McDonald House call it, ‘The Gift of Family’.”

Mr Fox said the work of the AFA Foundation helps improve public perception of the advice profession and contributes to a better understanding of financial advisers. “It is really important to the AFA that, as well as the advocacy work we do with Government, we work to improve the public’s understanding and perception of the great work our members do day in, day out, bringing peace of mind and certainty to their clients. Making people aware of how advisers contribute to improving the lives of those less fortunate via the AFA Foundation is an important part of that.”

The AFA Foundation will be raising money for a further three charities across the remaining AFA National Roadshow events in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane next week. Only a small number of registrations are still available. 

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AFA CEO Brad Fox said the AFA is looking forward to working with Ms Sciarrone who has a career in financial services spanning more than 20 years.

“We are delighted to now have Pina working with us to lead the work of the AFA Foundation both within and outside the financial advice community,” he said. “As a professional association, we share with our members a collective responsibility to act for the greater good of the community and the AFA Foundation provides one way in which we can do this. The role of the AFA Foundation chair is integral to making sure AFA members and corporate partners are involved in the charitable spirit of the AFA and are given the opportunity to make a difference in new ways within their local and national communities.”

The AFA Foundation has raised around $600,000 for various charities, including Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia, Red Cross (Tasmania Bushfires), Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Cure for Life Foundation, Christchurch Earth Quake Appeal, Save the Children Fund, the Ipswich Community Fund, Make a Wish Foundation, Green Gecko, Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute.

Ms Sciarrone said, “The AFA Foundation does a tremendous job in raising money with the support of Australia’s financial advisers for some great causes and I want to build on this success as a part of the role. Many financial advisers I work with do a lot of charitable work, often unnoticed, in their communities. If we can continue to harness this spirit, we will make a huge difference to the lives of those Australians who need our support the most.”

Ms Sciarrone has held senior roles with AIA Australia since 2010 and has also worked at management level for Tower Australia. She is currently AIA Australia’s Head of Adviser Services.  As AFA Foundation Chair, she succeeds former AFA Victorian State Director, Esther Althaus who held the position for the past year.

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AFA foundation chair, Brian Boggs, who has just returned from Christchurch, said the money was raised by the AFA community in association with the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Pacific Region.

“Christchurch is still a scene of devastation,” Mr Boggs said. “The Christchurch Cathedral may have to be taken down entirely and a year on, the city continues to experience up to 10 after-shocks a day.” 

In thanking the AFA community for the donation, NZ Consul General Martin Welsh said 181 people lost their lives in the earthquakes, including several financial advisers, and tens of thousands of people are still suffering physically and emotionally.

“You really know who your friends are when the chips are down,” he said. “Australia and Australians didn’t need to be asked, they just came forward in their thousands to help.”

Mr Welsh said the road to recovery for Christchurch will be a long one.

“As well as having a devastating effect on the people of New Zealand, the earthquakes have also had a devastating effect on our GDP – in fact the most dramatic effect a disaster has ever had on a country’s GDP in history; a reduction of 9%.”

Mr Boggs said the AFA Foundation hoped to continue to raise funds to support the victims of the Christchurch disaster.

The AFA Foundation has made a positive difference to many organisations over many years including MS Research, Save the Children, Make A Wish, The Green Gecko and the FARA.

“AFA members are committed to helping support their communities in good times and bad,” said Mr Boggs.

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AFA Foundation Chair, Brian Boggs said, “It is truly heartbreaking to see the devastating floods sweeping throughout Queensland and Northern NSW. Our thoughts and prayers are with those and
their families during this natural disaster.”

Mr Boggs said the AFA Foundation is extending their support by raising funds to help those affected. Anyone wishing to contribute can do so by visiting http://www.afa.asn.au/members_qldfloods.php.

The AFA Foundation ensures that the community spirit of sharing is part of the AFA philosophy by raising funds for chosen charity partners and working with them to make a difference in the lives of people who need it most. The AFA Foundation has raised more than $200,000 for MS Research Australia and many thousands more for Make-A-Wish Australia and Save the Children. The AFA Foundation has also supported victims of the Victorian bushfires and has now pledged support for victims of the Queensland floods.

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