ASB donating 677 days of work in the community

ASB staff will be setting out to make a difference in local communities next year with almost 5,500 hours of volunteer work to put towards local initiatives.

Staff will spend the equivalent of 677 days of work in the community after a huge marathon effort which saw about 2,500 ASB Auckland Marathon participants sign up to the bank’s minute-for-minute pledge.

As part of ASB’s sponsorship of the event, every minute run by participants who signed up to the plan will be matched with a minute of volunteer work by ASB staff in the coming year.

Almost 5,500 hours were tallied by those registered, which will be spent in local communities. An internal panel will decide how best to allocate the time and ASB head of sponsorship Mark Graham says the effort will make a tangible difference in whatever area the bank chooses to use the time in.

“We know how much energy and effort goes into preparing for an event like the ASB Auckland Marathon and we’re really excited to be able to do something in return for that time, and to make a difference in the community.

“ASB would like to congratulate each and every person who competed in this year’s event and in particular, those that signed up for the ASB Marathon Effort – thank you for your hard work and we look forward to sharing the great work we will be doing in local communities because of this.”

ASB staff already support a number of charities, including volunteering on area committees or as a caring caller for St John, or helping on cook nights at Ronald McDonald Houses around the country.

Graham says giving back to the community is a huge part of ASB’s culture, and involving all the dedicated runner’s at this year’s marathon so their progress and success would also help local communities, fit well with the bank’s strategy.

“This is a huge commitment from our team, dedicating thousands of hours to worthy causes, but we’re really excited about it and about the difference we can make to local communities around the country,” Graham says.

ASB is in its fifth year of sponsoring the event which also included a wheelchair category for the first time.

The 2018 ASB Auckland Marathon took place on Sunday 28 October with entrants running the full ASB Auckland Marathon, the Barfoot and Thompson Half Marathon, the John West Tuna 12km Traverse, the Fitbit 5km Challenge or the Barfoot and Thompson Kids Marathon.

For more information please visit asbmarathoneffort.co.nz.