Two charities receive major corporate support

Fortescue Metals Group has committed $750,000 over three years to Salvation Army, while New Town Toyota has been made title sponsor of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research’s Walk for Women’s Cancer.

Fortescue’s donation will go towards ensuring Salvation Army’s homelessness, family violence, youth, addictions and emergency relief services continue to provide high-quality support to Western Australians.

Fortescue chief financial officer Ian Wells has been a member of the Salvation Army business advisory committee since 2011 and was appointed chair in 2019.

Mr Wells said the organisation embraced empowerment, one of Fortescue’s values, by providing people in need with the support and skills to change their lives.

The Salvation Army public relations secretary Warren Palmer said the organisation’s capacity to respond to the complexities of community needs was intrinsically linked to corporate partnerships, like this one with Fortescue.

The news follows several other local partnerships announced by Fortescue.

In December, the company announced it was supporting Lifeline WA’s suicide prevention services with a $750,000 commitment over three years.

A month earlier, Fortescue partnered with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations to start the not for profit’s first aeromedical helicopter service in the state.  

In the 2021 financial year, the company donated $1.8 million towards partnerships and sponsorships and $2.8 million in donations and matched giving.  

Meanwhile, New Town Toyota has signed on as a title sponsor of Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research’s Walk for Women’s Cancer in a three-year deal.

The Institute could not reveal the value of the deal.

Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research chief development officer Paige Gibbs said family-run New Town Toyota was a great fit for an event dedicated to the women in our lives.

New Town Toyota and Kalamunda Toyota dealer principal Joe Zito said he had no hesitation in supporting an event where the funds raised go to women’s cancer research.

“The unfortunate truth is that cancer has affected so many of our lives in one way or another and it is a cause very close to my heart,” Mr Zito said.

“Tragically my wife and the mother of our two daughters, Sandra Zito lost her life to breast cancer in 1998 when the girls were only seven and five years old.

“Supporting cancer research is critical to making a difference to the outcomes for cancer patients. Only research can find new treatments.”

The Walk for Women’s Cancer is due to take place on Saturday April 30.  

Last year, the event raised more than $1 million for the Institute.