Thursday, 13 June 2024: Woolworths Group has established The Woolworths Group Foundation, a registered charity to deliver fast, targeted and practical support to Australian communities affected by natural disasters.

As Woolworths Group enters its 100th year, the Foundation is a first of its kind for the Group, consolidating its existing community natural disaster programs and partnerships, to allow more agile and responsive financial support for charities supporting Australian communities in crisis.

The Foundation will continue the long term support of Woolworths Group’s existing national disaster relief partners, including The Salvation Army, Foodbank, Rural Aid and Lifeline, while also creating opportunities for long-term partnerships with smaller local charities in disaster affected communities to provide even greater reach and collective impact.

Woolworths Group will directly invest in the Foundation to support partners in their vital work in Australian communities affected by natural disasters. This investment will include direct donations, as well as donating 20c from every Woolworths Spring Water 24x600mL pack. This support will continue to deliver millions in disaster relief funding every year. 

Woolworths Group raised over $2.4 million from the sale of Woolworths Spring Water in F23. Through this initiative, The Salvation Army has been able to purchase a new fleet of catering trailers, trucks and other equipment to ensure they are prepared to assist and serve the community when needed.

All money invested in the foundation and raised through water sales will be distributed to registered charities, with Woolworths Group covering all associated administration costs for the foundation to ensure donated funds are provided to charities in full.

Head of Woolworths Group Foundation, Stevie Wring said: “Woolworths Group is all about being ‘better together’ and there’s no time when that’s more important than in a natural disaster.

“In recent years, we’ve seen our store teams at the frontline of natural disasters - from turning a supermarket into a refuge for locals to sleep in when roads were cut off by floods, to providing supplies to emergency responders.

“Our disaster relief partnerships allow our support to extend beyond our stores, and provide funding for charities’ work across the entire community, whether that be setting up evacuation centers, providing clothing and food, or counseling and support to rebuild.

“With natural disasters predicted to only become more frequent in the years ahead, the Woolworths Group Foundation will allow us to swifty distribute funding to the people who know best how to make a meaningful impact.

“The Foundation will also make it easier for us to deliver funding to smaller local charities who have unique insights to deliver tailored help to their own communities.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Woolworths Group PR & Media on (02) 8885 1033 or media@woolworths.com.au

Notes to Editors:

• The Woolworths Group Foundation was registered as a charity in January 2023.
• Charities can apply for funding through the Partnership and Sponsorship form on the Woolworths Group website.
• For every 600ml Woolworths Spring Water 24 pack (or 10L pack available in NT and SA) purchased, 20 cents is donated to the Woolworths Group Foundation.  The packaging is set to be rebranded from the existing “STAND” disaster relief program to Woolworths Group Foundation on the 24-pack in the coming months, and on the 10L packs next year.