The Monash Business Awards is thrilled to welcome Community Bank Pinewood on board as a Platinum Sponsor.
Branch Manager Indu Angammana said becoming a Monash Business Awards sponsor was a really good fit for the bank.
“For us it made a lot of sense (to come on board as a sponsor), as the Monash Business Awards are such a huge presence in the local community,” she said.
Community Bank Pinewood opened in Mount Waverley in 2002 as a community branch of the Bendigo Bank.
Indu said Bendigo Bank had a strong commitment to supporting grassroots organisations, like the Monash Business Awards, which was what made it stand out from the larger banks.
She said since the first Bendigo Bank community branch opened in 1998 they had contributed $229 million to community organisations across Australia.
The Community Bank Pinewood alone has contributed $1.3 million to groups in the Monash community – including sporting clubs, Rotary groups, the Monash Youth Music Festival, the Waverley Woodworkers and Radio Lollipop at the Monash Children’s Hospital.
Indu said their motto was “Profit with a purpose” as large percentage of Community Bank Pinewood’s profits were fed back into the community.
The bank runs an annual Pitch It Community Grants Program, where community groups can apply for funding for specific projects. This year – together with their ‘Pitch Partner’ local businesses – they will be giving away $55,000 in funds to selected finalists.
Indu said the “Pitch It” events were not just about providing funds to community organisations, but also a chance for groups to network and make connections.
She said the Waverley Woodworkers had met representatives from Monash Children’s Hospital’s Radio Lollipop at one of the Pitch It nights. They made a connection on the night and the woodworkers now make toys for children in the hospital.
As well as supporting community groups with financial donations, Community Bank Pinewood also runs free investment and business seminars for groups – recently running a financial seminar for a Monash sporting club.
This year Community Bank Pinewood also started a new award, named the Ericson Community Service Award in honour of the bank’s inaugural Branch Manager Merv Ericson. The awards recognise individuals doing exceptional community work in Monash.
The bank has also backed the Monash Community Podcast, which is hosted by Charles Kovess and was set up last year to share news from the community and interviews with prominent local people. The podcast aims to fill the gap left by the closure of local newspaper the Monash Leader.
Community Bank Pinewood has many strong links to the Monash community, and the Monash Business Awards team is excited about how they can help the awards grow even stronger.
You can find Community Bank Pinewood at the Pinewood Shopping Village, 65 Centreway, Mount Waverley or give them a call on 9886 6477 for all your banking needs.
Is your business interested in becoming a sponsor of the Monash Business Awards? Click here to find out more.