Among other things, Hands Across Canberra’s Heroes make sure the annual Canberra Day Appeal has maximum impact. Photo: HAC.
Canberra’s boardrooms are looking beyond the bottom line with the launch of a new program that lets them deepen their support for the charities that hold the city together.
Hands Across Canberra (HAC) launched HAC Heroes this year and CEO Genevieve Jacobs is unsurprised some of the capital’s biggest names – including Village Building Company and Service One Mutual – have already answered the call.
“This is a very strong community in Canberra; people care about looking after each other,” she says.
The program creates a structure allowing corporates to support the hundreds of smaller, local charities that make Canberra tick.
“This campaign is not simply about a single cause or organisation – it’s uplifting the entire community,” Ms Jacobs says.
“That makes it a good fit for organisations and companies doing business with the whole of community, knowing the things that matter to them will be supported by our process.”
In practical terms, HAC Heroes is the engine behind the annual Canberra Day Appeal, empowering HAC to match up to $2500 in fundraising for each participating local charity – from ACT Pet Crisis Support to Fearless Women, Raw Potential to the Early Morning Centre.
“Our Heroes make that funds matching possible,” Ms Jacobs says. “It allows us to make a big impact, particularly for charities that don’t have the resources national charities have, but are dedicated to making a difference in their own community.”
Service One Mutual, through its partnership with Bendigo Bank, was one of the first to come on board.
For CEO Ivan Slavich, the decision was as much about values as dollars.
“I think most corporates are really focused on delivering dividends to their shareholders. We don’t do that. Our shareholders want us to give back to the community. We’re all about profit for purpose,” he says.
“HAC’s foundation is on delivering for the Canberra community and charities that exist here. So there’s a real synergy.”
Bendigo Bank CEO Ivan Slavich says corporations should consider four stakeholders: staff, owners, customers and their local community. Photo: Bendigo Bank.
Bendigo supports HAC not just financially, but in-kind as well. HAC’s home is in Bendigo’s Deakin office.
Mr Slavich says it comes back to the role businesses play in shaping their community.
“We believe organisations should consider four stakeholders: their staff, owners, customers, and the fourth is the community in which they operate,” he says.
“I think it also sends a message to the community when they’re considering whether to bank at one of five branches across Canberra: not only are we competitive with our products and services, but by banking with us, they can bank on their community.”
Ms Jacobs describes another early Hero, Village Building Co, as one of the “deep Canberra businesses” that have been trusted local players for decades.
CEO Vince Whiteside says when corporations support charities in their local communities, they get to witness the impact.
“What really resonates with us is that Hands Across Canberra’s impact goes directly back into the community we live in, and we can see the difference first-hand,” he says.
Village has been a consistent supporter of Hands Across Canberra. It sponsors the organisation’s signature events, including the annual lunch, which this year becomes the 2025 annual dinner. Village’s quarterly publication Q Living even doubles as a fundraising tool, offering local businesses advertising opportunities tied to donations.
“Each contributes a $1000 donation to Hands Across Canberra in return for their advertisement,” Mr Whiteside says. “This initiative not only supports local business visibility but also directly channels funds back into the community.”
Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs says its Heroes are trusted local businesses that demonstrate genuine care for the community in their everyday activities. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Giving locally is baked into the DNA of Village.
“It’s part of who we are as a company – building not just homes, but stronger communities,” Mr Whiteside says.
That sentiment is exactly what Hands Across Canberra is banking on.
“It highlights how we’re building this thing together – and when the community foundation gets rolling, it becomes this big piece of social infrastructure, one big resource for the whole community,” Ms Jacobs says.
“That’s why, in our Heroes, we look for businesses that genuinely care about Canberra and demonstrate that in their everyday activities. They’re trusted, have strong community engagement and leaders who really step up and recognise the value of community engagement.”
For more information, visit Hands Across Canberra.
