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One Perth broker has successfully raised over $200,000 at a recent charity dinner featuring some of Australia’s famous faces.
Mortgage Choice franchisee Tony Wills held the dinner at the Melbourne Cricket Club to raise money for Australia’s Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment Resources Fund, with former prime minister John Howard attending as guest speaker.
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The dinner also featured a sporting legends panel hosted by TV presenter and businessman Eddie McGuire, which included former Australian cricketers Dennis Lillee and Rodney Hogg, as well as AFL coaches Brad Scott and Chris Scott.
Mr Wills, who has previously served in the SAS, said it is very important for brokers to have some form of community involvement.
“It’s good for the branding and network of your business, and on a personal level, it’s also very healthy to be giving back to the community you operate in,” he said.
Mr Wills said charity relationships can be turned into business relationships, provided it is done with like-minded people and a sensible approach.
“I’ve witnessed these relationships working fine,” he said. “So long as there are clear, respected guidelines.”
“With the SAS Resource Fund that I work with, I’m personally not involved with the charity for that purpose. It’s like a part of my family, having worked with some of the guys for 20 years and often 24/7 in sometimes the most adverse conditions.”
Mr Wills said it is fair for sponsors to expect to see some value for their dollar, and that there needs to be a KPI measurement that sponsors can use on supporting organisations.
He does not see any ethical problem in promoting charity work either but does not go out of his way to make his colleagues and customers aware of his efforts.
“Every person is entitled to promote their charity, as long as it upholds the integrity of the charity,” he said.
“Only the last couple of years have people become aware of the charity work I do. I guess I’m a bit shy in that aspect, as I don’t want people to think that I’m primarily doing it to grow my business.”
Over the last three months, Mr Wills has held three dinners for the SAS Resource Fund, raising over $500,000 in total.
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