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How this hotel giant plans to improve Australia's future

Building “healthy” families across Australia is the aim of a new AccorHotels community fund which will target mental health, cancer research, Indigenous employment and opportunities for youth.

Building “healthy” families across Australia is the aim of a new AccorHotels community fund which will target mental health, cancer research, Indigenous employment and opportunities for youth.

The new initiative will see the hotel group work with the Kokoda Youth Foundation, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Lifeline and AIME Mentoring for the next three years.

AccorHotels Pacific chief operating officer Simon McGrath highlighted the work done by these organisations as “critical to the nation’s success”.

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He also underlined the hotel giant’s history of giving over its 25 years in Australia. In that time, it has donated in excess of $5 million to charity, he revealed.

“In ascertaining our ambitions for the next 25 years and our contribution and commitment to the Australian community, we decided to set up our own Community Fund: a passion project that aligns with our values and is designed to have even greater impact,” he said.

“We fundamentally believe that healthy families build healthy communities and by directing our fundraising efforts to one central Community Fund, we will be able to better garner the passion and focus on areas of need for the Australian community.”

Fundraising will be undertaken by 10,000 staff across 200 of Accor’s Australian properties with the aim of raising $800,000 for the fund in 2017.

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The highlight of the year’s efforts will be the three-day Race to Survive in association with the Kokoda Youth Foundation – an adventure race that will take place on the Gold Coast in October.

The Community Fund will assist its four foundation partners in the following ways:

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research will be directing Community Fund money into Rare and Neglected Cancer Research Programs

Lifeline will use the funds for their Text Crisis Support Project

AIME Mentoring funds will help grow the mentoring program from 6,000-10,000 Indigenous high school students by 2020

Kokoda Youth Foundation will direct funds to their On the Right Track Program, a program that targets Year 9 students with learning, behavioral or social challenges which detract from educational outcomes.

What do you think of this new initiative?