News
Construction Industry Hits the Green Raising $120K for Charity
January 9, 2025 | IN Media Release and News | BY AVID | 4 min read
Villaworld Homes by AVID Property Group (AVID) hosted its ninth annual Golf Day Classic charity fundraising event at Royal Pines Golf Club, raising a remarkable $120,000 for the Property Industry Foundation and MATES in Construction (MATES) on Friday 22 November 2024.
Over the course of the day, more than 150 industry suppliers and contractors rallied together with a shared commitment to raise funds in support of homeless youth, as well as for Mental Health awareness and suicide prevention within the Construction Industry.
AVID General Manager Housing, Peter Wood, credited the combined efforts of the AVID team, its corporate partners and special guests for making this year’s event another overwhelming success.
“AVID has always had a great respect and appreciation for the work that the Property Industry Foundation and MATES do and the value they place on the often overlooked challenges faced by people within our industry,” Mr Wood said.
“This annual event is a chance for the construction community to come together and give back to these two groups who do so much for our workforce and beyond, and every year we are so thrilled to see how enthusiastically people come together in support of these causes.”
Front and centre for the fundraising feat were AFL legend and radio host Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt, three-time AFL Premiership player Jason Akermanis, and Australian professional boxer Jai Tapu Opetaia.
“We can’t thank everyone enough for their unwavering eagerness to keep the causes of MATES and the Property Industry Foundation front of mind all day – despite the wet weather, spirits certainly were not dampened,” Mr Wood said.
On Wednesday 18 December Villaworld Homes by AVID presented a cheque of $60,000 to each charity partner, bringing the figure for all-time total funds raised at Golf Day Classic to $820,000.
Since joining as a partner for the Golf Day Classic in 2023, the Property Industry Foundation has been a valued beneficiary of the event.
Property Industry Foundation Queensland State Manager Antoinette Rusby-Perera said the Foundation is proud to have established an ongoing relationship with the Villaworld Homes Golf Day Classic and is enthused for the impact this partnership has had, and will continue to have, in supporting homeless youth in Queensland.
“Every young person deserves a safe and secure place to call home. Yet in Queensland, over 8,600 young people aged 15-24 presented to homelessness services in one year,” said Ms. Rusby-Perera.
“The Foundation continues to be committed to giving young people who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless, brighter futures. This is the third year we have partnered with Villaworld Homes for this year’s Golf Classic and deeply grateful to AVID and the broader property and construction industry for their unwavering support. It keeps getting stronger.”
Operations Manager of MATES in Construction QLD/NT Trent Bazley said the home builder had consistently fundraised and supported MATES for over a decade.
“The support from AVID allows us to continue to reach construction workers from every area of the industry,” Mr. Bazley said.
“The funds that AVID raise for MATES allows us to consistently deliver a targeted suicide prevention model that specifically fits the industry. Without companies like AVID committing and delivering fundraising events for us, we simply could not do the work we do. This includes having field staff covering both urban and regional areas, case managers worker on our 24/7 helpline, and new initiatives designed to help at risk groups such as apprentices.”
“AVID has been a pioneer in fundraising for MATES over the last decade and we cannot thank them enough for supporting us in our endeavour to save lives in the construction industry.”
