The Wise Foundation believes that all people and communities should have the opportunity to achieve economic independence through business. Our core mission is, ‘To strengthen communities through assisting the creation of innovative economic models.’

Based in Melbourne, Australia, the Wise Foundation was formed in April 2008 to further the community development and social commitments of The Body Shop Australia, the Adidem group of companies and the Wise family.

The Wise Foundation is a registered Tax Concession Charity for the purpose of assisting marginalised people achieve meaningful participation in the community.

Flood Recovery Results

When floods devastated parts of Queensland and Victoria earlier this year, staff throughout the Adidem Group instantly volunteered to help with clean-up efforts.

The Wise Foundation mobilised immediately through the Adidem Group of companies, organising our first ever group-wide emergency relief effort. While organising teams of volunteers to visit the worst affected areas in Queensland and Victoria, we also provided donation tins at all of our public counters so customers could join in the response, and publicised our appeal through all company communications.

In Queensland, we partnered with St Vinnies to assist families in the Ipswich and Lowood communities. Over a five-week period our teams washed and wiped, scrubbed and polished, laughed and cried with those people who had suddenly had their lives turned upside down. Staff provided pamper sessions at the local pool and distributed hampers provided by The Body Shop. The response of those we were able to assist was incredibly humbling, and our volunteer teams really helped lift spirits in the community and forged enduring friendships.

In Victoria, our dedicated volunteers helped the Carisbrook community, with the same results. When floodwaters receded, our teams manned brooms and hoses, and were tireless in their efforts to help the community with whatever they required. Often the most effective assistance was simply the energy, enthusiasm and solidarity our teams provided. For anybody who missed the appeal and would like to contribute now (or more!), I suggest you donate directly to the critical work of www.lifeline.org.au.

Huge thanks to everyone who gave their time (often their own) and particularly to Kerry Robinson of Bizness Babes and Mandy Glassie of The Body Shop for coordinating efforts in Queensland and Victoria respectively. This spontaneous campaign also brought everyone under the colourful umbrella of the Adidem Group closer together; Courtney from Sensaura in Noosa summed it up saying she “felt like she met her sisters and cousins at last”.

In addition to the enduring relationships forged with these communities, we are delighted to announce that our Flood Relief Appeal raised $45,000 and that the Wise Foundation has matched this amount dollar for dollar. Recent disasters have shown that communities are at their most vulnerable when the media attention fades, which is why we’ve decided to focus this $90,000 and our ongoing efforts on providing counselling and emotional support to those worst affected.

Specifically, we have funded Lifeline to provide a full-time, dedicated counsellor for the Ipswich/Lowood/Lockyer Valley region in Queensland, and we are also contributing to rebuilding the park rotunda and BBQ in Carisbrook, Victoria, civic facilities we believe are important for the health and wellbeing of the community.

Companies in the Adidem Group, through all of these activities, have contributed the equivalent of more than $250,000 to flood relief efforts. But without the human element, without the incredible energy and compassion shown by people through the group, these would just be numbers. It’s our people who made the difference and, I, for one, am immensely proud to be part of this team.

Alex McDonald
Executive Director
Wise Foundation