The charity was in the process of figuring out how to scrape funds for a new van when Brighter Access General Manager Tanya Fox received an unexpected phone call that put a smile on her face. The call from Forsyths Financial Services offered $5,000 from its charity worker fund, Forsyths Foundation.

“With this donation and help from one of the local dealers, we now have our van,” Ms Fox said. “I was actually lost for words, which is very rare for me. I was surprised, it was just amazing that a business sees value in what we do.”

Presenting the cheque, David McLellan, a principal of Forsyths, said that Brighter Access was one of five charities selected. “Being local, I know of the impact that it has on a lot of lives not only in Inverell but in a similar footprint to where our offices are located.”

The Forsyths Foundation, formed in 2015, enables staff to donate money from their salary. Funds are matched dollar-for-dollar by Forsyths. Staff in each office nominate a local charity they would like to donate money to before the Foundation’s Committee makes a decision. 

This year, the Foundation is supporting Brighter Access ($5000); the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Armidale Support Group ($1,000); Royal Flying Doctor Service, Coonabarabran ($1,000); the RSPCA Gunnedah Branch ($1,000); and the Heaven Can Wait Animal Shelter in Tamworth ($1,000).