The culmination of ten months of tireless fundraising from more than 200 AccorHotels around Australia has seen the company raise AUD$460,000 for Mission Australia and AUD$40,000 for Kokoda Youth Foundation, helping to reduce homelessness in Australia.
Celebration of the group’s fundraising efforts was capped off at Mercure Gold Coast Resort after a gruelling 3-day Race to Survive adventure challenge which saw more than 200 AccorHotels staff compete.
Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Pacific said the money raised for Mission Australia and the Kokoda Youth Foundation will no doubt have a lasting impact on helping Australians in need.
“Each night our hotels provide a comfortable and secure place for our guests to sleep yet more than 100,000 people in Australia sleep rough and are homeless every night,” he said. “We strongly believe that every Australian has the right to a bed and somewhere safe to lay their head and this is why we have been passionate supporters of Mission Australia for five years.
“Our 10,000 employees have fundraised tirelessly throughout the year and with the support of our guests and clients, we are proud to be donating $460,000 to Mission Australia and $40,000 to the Kokoda Youth Foundation which supports young people by breaking cycles of welfare dependency, addressing mental health issues and advocating suicide prevention.
“AccorHotels has now raised close to $2 million for Mission Australia through our Race to Survive fundraising challenges and we are honoured to be seeing the funds go to such worthy projects in combating homelessness and improving the lives of Australians in need”.
The $460,000 raised for Mission Australia will directly benefit their services including Missionbeat (NSW) – van patrols connecting people and combating homelessness, a pilot of a homelessness program in Queensland- and Charcoal Lane (VIC) – a social enterprise restaurant providing pathways to employment for Indigenous youth.
James Toomey, Executive Operations and Fundraising at Mission Australia said: “We are so grateful to all the Accor team for the continued support for Mission Australia’s work to help Australians in need on their journey to independence.
“It’s a valued partnership going back many years during which time they have raised nearly $2 million for Mission Australia. We rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to help us create so many different opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and social exclusion in Australia.”
AccorHotels – Australia’s largest hotel group – has been a partner of Mission Australia for five years, with the Kokoda Trail course being the fourth Race to Survive fundraising event that the two organisations have hosted.
From 14-16 October 2015, participants in AccorHotels annual Race to Survive: Kokoda Trail challenge endured rain, 25 km treks through rugged bushland, canoeing, obstacle courses, stretcher challenges and tug-of-war competitions, all in the name of fundraising and mateship while honouring the ANZAC legend which celebrates its centenary this year.