People have always been at the center of WestPac Wealth Partners, including its associates, clients, community, and the world. An integral part of our process is our focus on the values, dreams, and goals of those around us, keeping their desired end in mind every step of the way. COVID-19 has tested the world in innumerable ways. We believe that challenges in life can often make or break people, companies, and communities. With COVID-19, we at WestPac chose to be proactive and to rise to the challenge as we strive to bring as many people with us to the top as we possibly can. That’s why we, along with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and other institutions, have donated over $60,000 to aid in the creation of 5,834 face masks.
These are no ordinary face masks – they were crafted by the Refugee Artisan Initiative who provide, with the help of donors like WestPac, Guardian, and our other partners, training, patterns, tools, and materials to refugee and immigrant women in the United States, aiming to provide steady employment by hand-crafting products from home. This flexible employment helps artisans overcome barriers such as language, access to transportation, and childcare. Because of this initiative, these women are able to make ends meet and be independent new residents of the United States.
After the receipt of these masks came Part Two of WestPac’s initiative to give back. We recognize that small and medium business are the backbone of America’s prosperity, and many organizations have been hit hard by the epidemic. We know how important it is for these businesses to open their doors again, and we are committed to the health and welfare of business owners and their customers. In an effort to support these groups, our team members reached out to local small and medium-sized business owners and donated to those who needed face coverings to return to work. Now, workers in our communities can return to work knowing that they are helping keep those around them safe.
Samantha Haas, a financial representative of WestPac in Hawaii, reports, “Giving out the masks was a humbling experience. The business owners I reached out to were surprised, at first, and very grateful. They put their masks on immediately as I gave them out. It was great to give back to the community by promoting safety and putting smiles on faces – even if they were covered up by masks.”
WestPac has always been focused on helping the community; as part of our three-fold mission statement states, “We seek to accomplish all of our objectives while serving as good citizens through our charitable endeavors and by our leadership.” With a nod to Disney’s The Mandalorian, we will say, “This is the way,” the WestPac Way. We plan to continue fulfilling our commitment to help make the world become a better place as we seek out further charitable endeavors and help our clients meet their goals of giving back.
Interested in learning more about The WestPac Way? Take a look at our About Us page to learn more about our efforts to make the world a better place. To see why we were recently listed in Fortune, Inc., and several other major publications, click here.