My parents are excellent role models who, from an early age, instilled the values of care, compassion and philanthropy in myself, my brothers and sisters.
They always taught us about the importance of not only considering the needs of others but giving generously of themselves as well.
From as early as I can remember, my mother would cook meals for church members and for neighbours who are sick or who had an ill relative, and my dad was always providing guidance and insight on business and on life.
Their influence has left an indelible mark on me, which is why, when we established the Shavano Family Office, we wanted to use it as a platform to support family, business and the community.
Alongside the Shavano team’s volunteering activities, we’ve thought long and hard about which charities and community causes to support. There are so many worthy ones, and it was difficult to decide where to lend a hand.
So, we developed pillars to guide our philanthropic approach:
- building community resilience
- supporting families
- improving health
- educating youth
All communities need assistance at some stage and by donating to charities that support their resilience we aim to give people a hand up when it matters most.
For me, family is the bedrock of every community. Put simply, stronger families and family units make stronger societies, so families deserve our support.
We are privileged to have such a high-quality healthcare system in Australia and amazing frontline care workers, and it is important we uplift them and demonstrate just how much we appreciate their care to the community.
We all know education is critical to give our young people the best chance to get ahead in life, and that is why it is a focus area for Shavano. So, that is the balance we strive for in our philanthropic activities.
Just as our businesses have been built on strong foundations, we believe that our communities deserve strong, foundational support. At the Shavano Family Office, we are keenly focussed on results, but what also motivates the team is knowing that, through our growth we can reinvest in the Australian community and lift others up.
From highly recognised national charities such as the Australian Red Cross, the Cancer Council and the Rapid Relief Team through to community activities like NSW Ambulance Appreciation Day and participation in the MS Plus 50km Challenge, we support charities and causes that reinforce our investment philosophy and our core values.
Dean Hales Founder and CEO
