KPMG Tauranga’s Workplace Giving Programme has donated just under $5,000 to two Bay of Plenty charities, through the Acorn Foundation.

Staff members involved in the giving programme chose to split their donation between local charities working in the fields of youth and education.

The chosen charities are Te Aranui Youth Trust, which supports vulnerable children in the Western Bay of Plenty, and NumberWorks’n’Words Tauranga, which provides Maths and English tuition after school to students.

Tanya Grimstone, Funding Manager at Te Aranui Youth Trust, says the donation has already allowed the charity to provide vital support to vulnerable children.

“This funding has already enabled us to assist two rangatahi [youth] who have been victims of family harm, with one school uniform so a child can return to school and also helping to replace a broken window to keep a home warm. Without these funds we would not have been in a position to help,” says Tanya.

Leanne Rhodes-Robinson, Owner at NumberWorks’nWords Tauranga, says the donation will provide four free tuition places to children who would otherwise not be able to afford a place.

“This funding will make a big difference to 4 students from a lower socio-economic background, and we are so happy we can offer these places for free next term. We are very grateful, as I know the children and their parents will be,” says Leanne.

This is the third consecutive year that KPMG Tauranga’s Workplace Giving Programme has donated to local charities. Employees at the firm can choose to join the programme by donating a percentage of their payroll each month, which gets pooled, and the participating employees collectively decide where to donate their pooled money.

Lori Luke, Acorn Foundation CEO, says Workplace Giving is a popular model in the US, and gaining popularity in NZ.

“It’s a great way to bring employees together, as it’s inclusive – everyone can participate. The focus is more on participation than the dollar amount of individual contributions. And then you get this wonderful sense of collective achievement, where employees can really get a sense of the impact of their giving.”

KPMG is one of several corporate donors in the region who regularly give to the community in different ways through the Acorn Foundation.