In keeping with the spirit of collaboration and community support, one of the Surfest Women’s Pro crowd funders has donated its winnings from the 2018 event to two local charities.
As part of the crowdfunding initiative, all 86 businesses were drawn a surfer in the competition at Merewether in February. Funda Finance Partners drew Malia Manuel from Hawaii, who placed equal third, giving the Funda team winnings of $2,000.
Based in Merewether and with a passion for supporting grass roots organisations, the team chose to donate the cash to local anti-domestic violence charity, Got Your Back Sista, and to the Mark Hughes Foundation in support of brain cancer research.
CEO of Funda Finance Partners, Nathan Wright said that they were excited about being part of the Surfest 2018 initiative.
“We are a national company that understands how tremendously important organisations such as Surfest, the Mark Hughes Foundation and Got Your Back Sista are for the communities they serve,” Nathan said.
“It is also important to note the significant support of leaders such as Col Law and the CommBank team as well as the other 84 organisations that have provided to this iconic women’s sporting event for Newcastle. It is great to see good people coming together like this.”
Funda CFO, Mark Owen said that companies could do a lot by contributing funds and time to causes they believe in.
“We selected Mark Hughes Foundation and Got Your Back Sista because of the work these organisations do for the health and wellbeing of people across all walks of life in our community. Health and the safety of our loved ones are two causes close to our hearts and it is a privilege to be able to support in some small way to their significant work,” Mark said.
The initiative began three years ago when CommBank Business Banking Executive, Col Law, came up with the idea and then worked with Surfest Coordinator Warren Smith to develop the idea to crowdfund the event. This has ensured that Newcastle’s iconic Surfest would provide world-class opportunity for women in the sport. The QS6000 Women’s Pro surfing competition was held as part of Surfest from 19 to 25 February 2018.
Each of a total of 85 organisations contributed $1,650 to fund the event. One of these organisations, Grandstand Physio, was drawn from the hat and announced as the Naming Right Sponsor of the event.
Surfest Coordinator, Warren Smith congratulated Funda Finance Partners on its generosity.
“This is another great example of the generosity of local people. This is an outstanding gesture and one that will help two local organisations in their endeavours,” Warren said
IMAGE | Left to right: Nathan Wright from Funda, Mark Hughes, Melissia Histon from Got Your Back Sista and Mark Owen from Funda.