Reckitt Benckiser (RB), a leading global consumer goods company, has launched a new online initiative aimed at encouraging students, graduates and those early on in their careers to understand and live the same philanthropic values as the company.
As part of the initiative, Experience of a Lifetime, Australians will have the opportunity to enter the challenge and win one of six possible charity adventures (each challenge worth up to of £3,000):
- to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
- trek the Great Wall of China
- cycle from London to Paris
- cycle on the slopes of Mt Etna in Sicily
- hike the Inca Trail or
- cross the Sinai Desert
Participants can enter the charity challenge competition online at www.facebook.com/ReckittBenckiser, where they can select their favourite experience, explain why they want to take part, and have their friends and colleagues vote for their entry.
The first five entrants that receive 1,000 votes will win the charity challenge adventure of their choice. RB will cover the costs of the experience and will donate funds to Save the Children, which organises each of the adventures and is also RB‟s number one charity partner.
RB Regional Senior Vice President of Australia & New Zealand, Lindsay Forrest, believes that initiatives such as Experience of a Lifetime demonstrate how RB is committed and passionate about fostering a culture of giving back to the community.
RB has recently completed their third global challenge in Brazil, where 65 dedicated employees from 34 countries trekked 71km through the mountainous Chapada Diamantina region in Brazil raising £300,000 for Save the Children.
Two employees from RB Australia, Sally Clout and Jeanette Lamb, took part in this most recent global challenge and raised in excess of £20,000 for Save the Children.
Talking about her experience, Assistant Brand Manger for Vanish NapiSan, Sally Clout, said she was thrilled to participate in this exciting, once in a lifetime experience.
“I found the trek to be a hugely rewarding challenge and I would urge all young Australians to enter this competition to win the experience of a lifetime. Save the Children is an organisation that works hard to ensure children around the world get proper healthcare, food, education and protection. No gift is too big or effort too small, whatever we decide to donate: our time, our energy, or money. We won't change the whole world in one single day, but we'll change it bit by bit, day after day. I‟m very proud that Save the Children is Reckitt Benckiser's global charity partner and since 2003 the company and employees have raised over £4 million to save children's lives.”
The launch of Experience of a Lifetime also coincides with the recent release of RB‟s Sustainability Report (www.rb.com), which details how it has achieved some major sustainability improvements, including this Save the Children initiative.
By funding programs such as Save the Children, RB has enabled the not-for-profit organisation to do enough work to save approximately 125,000 children‟s lives directly and helped numerous families in the process.
Programs have been funded in Angola, Tanzania, India, as well as in deprived areas of developed countries such as the US and the UK. Additionally, funds have been provided to help children survive the weather-induced emergencies that have hit communities all round the world.
Further information:
Katy McMillan from Edelman:
T: (02) 9291 3396, 0424 465 070
E: katy.mcmillan@edelman.com