New foundation is the jewel in the crown for retail brand
Posted on 28 Feb 2024
By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia
Jewellery retailer Michael Hill has established Australia’s newest philanthropic foundation.
The company said the Michael Hill Foundation would focus on two areas: empowering women and restoring the natural environment.
It is the latest addition to the burgeoning number of philanthropic foundations in Australia established by corporate entities.
The Michael Hill announcement comes as the Salesforce Foundation this week awarded $1 million to not-for-profits focused on closing the education gap for First Nations students.
The Kennards Hire Foundation, meanwhile, hosted a VIP soccer event for the beneficiaries of charity partners including the Smith Family, BackTrack and Stepping Stone House.
Michael Hill said its new foundation was intended to support disadvantaged women in the markets in which the jeweller, established in 1979, operates, and to make a positive contribution towards the restoration and conservation of the natural environment.
“We have the ambition to be one of the most sustainable jewellery brands in the world and we are proud to be progressing our goal.”
Michael Hill CEO Daniel Bracken said the foundation had been launched as part of the company’s commitment to its 2030 sustainability goals.
“We are extremely proud that we have established the Michael Hill Foundation and our ongoing commitment to contribute to empower more than 100,000 women by 2030,” he said.
“We recognise the impact our industry plays on the environment, and we are choosing to focus on sourcing our products to reduce as much impact as possible.”
This included a commitment to plant up to one million trees throughout Australia, New Zealand and Canada by 2030.
The company said it had also:
- reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emissions it generated by 39% in 2023
- cut office waste by 65% in 2023.
The company also launched a green initiative in Australia that encourages customers to recycle gold jewellery pieces in exchange for a Michael Hill e-gift card.
“We have the ambition to be one of the most sustainable jewellery brands in the world and we are proud to be progressing our goal,” said Mr Bracken.
Dress for Success A global not-for-profit organisation that empowers women to achieve economic independence.
The Period Purse A Canadian charity striving to create menstrual equity by ensuring sustainable access to period products and by ending the stigma associated with periods through education and advocacy.
Women’s Refuge New Zealand’s largest organisation supporting women and children experiencing family violence.
Collective Good Foundation An organisation working with companies, NFPs and foundations to develop sustainable solutions to meet the challenges of a developing India in areas such as healthcare, education and empowering women.
One Tree Planted An NFP focused on global reforestation.
Michael Hill Group's strategy manager and head of sustainability, Kerrie Hockless, said to help achieve its sustainability targets, the jeweller would donate a portion of the sales of selected pieces to its charity partners.
“The launch of the Michael Hill Foundation is the next step in our commitment to a more sustainable future for our planet and a strong focus on empowering women – a cause incredibly close to our brand,” she said.