This year Group M’s annual ‘Power of One’ day saw its largest turn out yet, with over 500 employees across all their agency offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane working as one to give their time and skills to add value and raise funds for UnLtd charities.

On Friday 24^th February, all offices across the agency network took time to give back to the local community, delivering over $150,000 in value for several UnLtd charity partners. Each employee chose a cause close to their heart and spent time at a briefing with the specific charity to further understand their particular challenges. It was then their opportunity to give back through valuable and impactful activities, getting involved in skilled volunteering, unskilled volunteering or fundraising initiatives.

The charities supported on the day included:  batyr, Be Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army Project 614, The Pyjama Foundation, White Lion, Oz Harvest and Youth off the Streets.

Mark Lollback, GroupM’s CEO, said “I am so proud of the wonderful people that work at GroupM and our agencies – to see firsthand the passion and commitment that the team have given to so many worthwhile charities is impressive. It is important to go beyond normal business and give back to the communities and consumers that we serve” said Mark.

UnLtd CEO Paul Fisher said: “GroupM’s Power of One Day brings together the hearts and skills of an entire organisation to create social impact. Full credit to Mark Lollback and his team nationwide for participating in this inspiring event that channels the boundless skills, talent and time with the compassion and drive of its staff to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of disadvantaged young people in Australia, all in just one day. On behalf of the UnLtd Team and our charity partners, we want to say unlimited thanks to everyone who participated.”

Some of the 17 projects delivered included:

• White Lion works hard to prevent the entry – and re-entry – of kids into the juvenile justice system, through education and work readiness programs. The GroupM team joined the noble cause by facilitating a workshop for the young people in the program that demystified social media and shared the practicalities about the media industry, career paths, day-to-day responsibilities and key resources to getting a job in media. They also gave tips on how to be safe online and on managing their personal branding online when using social media.
• Members of GroupM hit the phones to generate funds and conversation, by selling socks for batyr’s 1S1G (one sock one goal) campaign. The campaign encourages teams within schools, universities, sporting teams and the community to wear the bright socks to start positive conversations around mental health, whilst visually promoting their willingness to smash the stigma.
• GroupM’s bright minds developed an internal communications plan to support the important work that Youth Off The Streets do. The team created a strategy to increase cross-unit communication within the charity to ensure more transparency around the direction of the organisation. YOTS work to ensure the youth that come into their care, leave it again prepared for a brighter future, through empowering and equipping them with the tools to receive a high school education, have a job in hand, ways to live free from drugs and with skills to face the world.
• Be Centre has been getting ready to open it’s doors to their new Warriewood premises, expanding into a bigger site to provide more space for disadvantaged and at risk children. The GroupM team rolled up their sleeves to ensure it was ready to open by painting the entire centre – a space that provides one-on-one Play Therapy to assist children aged 3-13yrs in overcoming the affects of trauma, such as abuse & neglect.

MEC Adelaide will be volunteering at Clipsal 500 for Oz Harvest on 2^nd to 5^th March 2017.