Inkjet & Digital Printing

Konica Minolta announces major sponsorship with Project Futures

Thursday 20. June 2013 - Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia has announced a new major sponsorship with the non-profit organisation, Project Futures, a charity that has captured the hearts and minds of many Australians.

Konica Minolta’s newly appointed Managing Director, Dr David Cooke is a passionate advocate for corporate social responsibility with his insights documented in his thesis “The philanthropic contract: building social capital through corporate social investment”. Dr Cooke is looking to strengthen Konica Minolta’s position as a company that cares and has been instrumental in supporting a number of causes through financial sponsorship, corporate volunteering and workplace giving programs.
According to Dr Cooke, “CSR is a powerful way for businesses to make a difference. When I heard about the work of Project Futures I was so moved by Somaly Mam’s story that I knew our company had to be involved. Most of the money we’ve put forward will go directly to supporting the victims and survivors of trafficking in both Australia and South East Asia.”
Project Futures was inspired by the biography of former Cambodian sex slave, Somaly Mam. It raises funds for programs dedicated to combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Australia and South-East Asia. The money raised contributes to the rescue, recovery, education and reintegration of victims, as well as funding advocacy for the cause.
Stephanie Lorenzo established Project Futures in 2009 after organising a charity bike ride across Cambodia which raised US $80,000 for the Somaly Mam Foundation. On the bike ride she met with survivors of sex-trafficking and found those meetings so life-changing she set up Project Futures shortly afterwards. It is now run by a passionate network of young and inspiring professionals in Sydney. To date the organisation has raised a significant amount of money while bringing awareness to the issues of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Stephanie Lorenzo, Project Futures’ Founder and CEO, adds, “We are excited to have Konica Minolta as a Major Corporate Sponsor not only because of what their gift will allow us to achieve but also because we want to work closely with their staff and involve them personally in our organisation. It is wonderful to find such a motivated sponsor and one who understands the importance of a true partnership approach.”
Konica Minolta’s CSR activities are based on its Management Philosophy of “The Creation of New Value,” and is committed to making a positive and meaningful contribution to the environment, society and the community in which it operates.
Ensuring it lives up to its values in supporting the local community Konica Minolta launched a Social Contribution Program in November 2011. With the energetic support of their employees, Konica Minolta has built strong relationships with three Australian charity partners and contributes throughout the year to help make a difference across Australia.
Konica Minolta’s charity partners include; The Smith Family, The Breast Cancer Network of Australia, Landcare Australia and now Project Futures. Additional sponsored initiatives include The Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize and a part-funded Ph.D. scholarship to support research into diabetes for the Menzies Research Institute of Tasmania.