Australia’s leading equipment hire and solutions provider, Coates, celebrated a year of “giving back” to local communities with the announcement that the Coates Foundation contributed $455,000 to charity partners and community organisations in FY22.
The foundation, which celebrated its first anniversary on November 23, combines corporate philanthropy, employee giving and workplace dollar matching, and employee volunteering. Coates operates a branch network across the country, with all employees encouraged to donate one workday a year to one of the Foundation’s national charity partners or a local charity of choice.
Alongside Coates’ existing partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, which strives to improve the education, life skills and employment opportunities for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, the Coates Foundation’s national charity partners are the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, This Is A Conversation Starter (TIACS) and Mission Australia.
Across Coates’ regional business units (BUs), the Foundation supports the Seven Telethon in the West BU, TradeMutt in the North BU, Foodbank in the South BU, and Humpy Dumpty at a local level in the East BU. Nationally, the Foundation also raises awareness for R U OK?.
Nurturing a culture that cares
Coates is well-known across Australia for its market-leading equipment hire, temporary works engineering and industrial solutions, but the foundation’s success so far is a testament to the philanthropic-minded company culture that’s naturally emerged.
The establishment of the foundation originated in part because of the willingness of Coates employees to make a positive contribution to the local communities where they live and work.
Elise Manns, executive general manager for people and safety at Coates, says employees “have a natural affinity for philanthropy – it’s in their ‘orange blood’. Before we implemented the Coates Foundation, employees had already shown their desire to be part of different charity events and causes.
“The Coates Foundation has been able to provide structure to these efforts and set some clear standards about what we want to achieve and how that can be measured. Also, because it is now visible throughout the organisation, with sponsorship from the CEO and the entire executive leadership team, it gives it legitimacy and impact.”
Focusing on mental health awareness
The foundation’s charity partners reflect the company’s desire to help promote mental health awareness among its own employees, industry stakeholders and the local community.
During the year, the Coates team participated in initiatives such as R U OK? Day, Mission Australia’s Christmas Appeal and Humpty Dumpty Foundation’s Balmoral Burn.
Funky Shirt Fridays, a fun weekly initiative supporting TIACS, has also been a big hit. Every Friday, employees across a number of Coates branches in Queensland wear a bright TradeMutt shirt to help encourage more open communication around mental health.
“The organisation has absolutely lived up to its name – it has been a conversation starter, and there is a hunger among our people to learn more about how they can better identify and respond to peers and colleagues who are experiencing issues with mental health,” says Ms Manns.
Helping communities in need
With rising living costs and the current housing crisis, there are many everyday Australians that are doing it tough.
As part of its goal to end homelessness, Mission Australia provides homelessness services including crisis and transitional accommodation and case management with wraparound support, specialised support services, early intervention to prevent homelessness occurring, as well as community housing.
“We chose Mission Australia because of their great work, but also because they have a national footprint like Coates, so it’s ideal for our workforce to connect with them,” says Ms Manns.
“At the end of the day, this is what the Coates Foundation exemplifies – connection. It connects us to our communities, and it connects us to people within our own organisation.
“And the more connections there are within a workforce, the stronger it will be.”
Coates will again lend a helping hand to Mission Australia’s Christmas appeal this year. Coates employees will donate non-perishable foods to make hampers and deliver them to Mission Australia locations. Plus, Coates will match any donations made by its employees.
