Pfizer Australia takes out 2018 NSW Corporate Volunteer Team of the Year Award

The Pfizer Cares volunteer team has been selected as the 2018 NSW Corporate Volunteer Team of the Year at a special ceremony in Sydney today.

The announcement was made in front of more than 300 community, business and political leaders and marks the end of a state-wide six month search spanning 112,000 individual nominations across 20 separate regional and suburban award ceremonies.

The Awards are an annual event run by The Centre for Volunteering to recognise the outstanding work of volunteers in every region across NSW.

The Pfizer Cares Volunteer Program draws on the effort and dedication of 1,700 employees who give their time and other support to help numerous community based organisations.

The program run by Pfizer Australia is built on a company-wide policy that fosters volunteering and encourages staff to take four days additional leave to volunteer for a local community or sporting group or join a volunteer team to help an organisation, project or event.

The Pfizer Cares volunteers support the Smith Family, Red Cross, Clean Up Australia, Ronald McDonald House as well as a number of other not-for-profit groups that rely on volunteers to help others.

The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said the awards had helped uncover so many incredible stories of community achievement and goodwill across every corner of the state.

“We hold these awards to highlight the contribution of all our volunteers,? Ms Rygate said.

“It gives us the opportunity to hear their stories, be inspired by their actions and pass on our thanks.

“It’s been my privilege to meet representatives from the Pfizer team and I thank them all for their dedication and support of so many charitable organisations and community groups. Their contribution is immense.”

The Awards are in their 12^th year and have grown to become one of the biggest events recognising volunteering across the country.

The 2018 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Family and Community Services and ClubsNSW, which represents the state’s 1,400 not-for-profit clubs. They are also supported by Mint Awards and Thrifty Car & Truck Rentals.

NSW Minister responsible for Volunteering, the Hon. Ray Williams MP, said the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are an important way to recognise the contribution of the 2.1 million volunteers working throughout NSW.

“It was an honour to meet and talk with so many esteemed volunteers today who work so hard for their local communities,” Mr Williams said.

“I congratulate all our award finalists and those volunteers selected to receive the Volunteer of the Year Awards.

“You all make a special contribution to your local communities, right across NSW. We can all learn from hearing your stories and celebrating your efforts.”

ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said that volunteers were the backbone of registered clubs across NSW.

“On behalf of an industry which relies upon 32,000 volunteers, I congratulate all of these deserving winners,” said Mr Ball.

“These awards recognise the huge contribution that volunteers make in their local communities, and ClubsNSW is proud to be a principal partner.

“Clubs across NSW rely on volunteers to help make their venues a great place to socialise, which in turn adds billions of dollars to the NSW economy every year.”

Photos of the event are kindly supplied by Michael Mannington, Volunteer Photography www.volunteerphotography.org, and are available to view here.

Further photos taken by Susan White of Corporate Digital, corporatedigital.com.au, are available here.