Bowser Bean has reached a major milestone in its long-standing partnership with Make-A-Wish Australia, celebrating raising $1 million for the charity.
The achievement reflects a 15-year partnership in which Bowser Bean has driven community focused retail engagement across its network of more than 30 sites; with customers, team members and Bowser Bean’s local communities supporting annual campaigns, in store initiatives and local activations.
Bowser Bean marked the milestone on 1 May with a dedicated $1m party, bringing together crew members, Make-A-Wish representatives and key stakeholders at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo. The celebration reflected the 15 year partnership through presentations, commemorative plaques, personal testimonials and a showcase of photo memories capturing Bowser Bean’s activations and engagement through the network.
Previous Bowser Bean GM and Make-A-Wish Relationship Partner, Chris Richardson, is humbled by the company’s endeavours for the charity.
“What started as a charity fun-run collaboration has grown into an ongoing partnership, raising funds, building awareness and in doing so punching well above our weight as independent regional network,” he said.
Fundraising focus
Fundraising at Bowser Bean has been driven through a mix of in store and network initiatives including lolly bag sales, regional themed posters, donation boxes, trivia nights, sporting events and the annual support of World Wish Day.
Coffee led promotions, themed dress ups and raffles, across the Bowser Bean/Vantage Fuels network create excitement for these initiatives and have continued the fundraising momentum year after year.
A key strength of the partnership has been Bowser Bean’s ability to embed fundraising into everyday customer interactions while still creating campaign moments that resonate locally. The model has remained operationally simple, community focused and highly visible; helping keep both staff and customers engaged over the long term.
Extraordinary support
The ongoing support shown by Bowser Bean’s teams, customers and stakeholders year after year for such an important cause has been extraordinary, said the retailer.
“Knowing those efforts have helped critically ill children and their families through some of life’s most difficult moments is a feeling that can hardly be described, but one that Bowser Bean is tremendously proud of.
“Bowser Bean looks forward to continuing our fundraising efforts to support Make-A-Wish.”
