Leading corporate executives brought some good news to the Australian Stock Exchange today, donning halos as angels in support of the launch of goodcompany’s new corporate volunteering program.

Vodafone Australia CEO Russell Hewitt, Macquarie Group Chief Information Officer Nigel Smyth, Yahoo 7 CEO Rohan Lund, Fox Interactive CEO Rebekah Horne, FOXTEL’s Patrick Delany and Network Ten’s Head of Digital Damian Smith joined NSW Volunteering Minister Linda Burney and goodcompany General Manager Belinda Morrissey to highlight the need for professionals to volunteer their time and skills to assist non-profit organizations achieve their goals.

In the lead up to National Volunteering Week (12 to 18 May), 6 leading executives joined goodcompany to launch a program to help corporates coordinate workplace skilled volunteering. The program will work with corporations who are giving staff paid time away from work to assist the community sector.

General Manager of goodcompany Belinda Morrissey said that many companies are looking for productive ways to give back to the community. Why not leverage their most valuable commodity – their staff?

“We know that many skilled employees want to participate in the community but, with their hectic work schedules, they rarely find the time,” she said. “If their employer actively supports and provides a platform for their volunteer work we believe this will have substantial benefits not only the not for profits in need of skilled expertise but the also for the volunteers themselves.”

“Incorporating community engagement into the corporate culture also assists with employee engagement and retention - issues that we know are top of mind for many employers.”

goodcompany is a not for profit organisation that coordinates skilled volunteering on behalf of more than 600 community organisations Ms Morrissey said.

“goodcompany have almost 6000 skilled volunteers registered with us who assist over 600 community organisations so we are well placed to help companies coordinate their volunteering programs.”

“Vodafone Australia, Macquarie Group, FOXTEL, Yahoo7, and FOX Interactive are all interested in staff volunteering schemes and that’s why they are joining us today to launch the scheme.”

Russell Hewitt, CEO Vodafone Australia, has introduced a program called BeyondYou which gives everyone at Vodafone the opportunity to be part of community and environment initiatives supported by Vodafone's corporate responsibility program and the Vodafone Australia Foundation.

"Vodafone's BeyondYou program encourages our people to make a difference to their community and the environment, so they can inspire their colleagues, family and friends to make a difference too.

"Everyone at Vodafone is given at least one extra leave day each year for volunteering activities. We call these Passion Days because they give our people the opportunity to spend time donating their skills to a community organisation they're passionate about.

"Passion Days also give our people the opportunity to develop new skills that could help them in their role at Vodafone.

"In 2008, Vodafone aims to take BeyondYou even further by challenging everyone in our business to take a Passion Day and encourage our suppliers and partners to get out in to the community as well," said Russell.

Macquarie Group’s chief information officer Nigel Smyth said: "I see volunteering professional skills as something far more satisfying than making a donation.”

“ Many of my staff provide their IT-related skills to a whole range of not-for profits, and have developed lasting relationships with some incredible philanthropic organisations. From my position at Macquarie, skilled volunteering amongst my staff, and for me personally, makes for a more rounded individual," he said.

FOXTEL’s Patrick Delany said: “``I think it's a great opportunity to put something back both personally and from our company’s perspective. After doing it tough for so many years FOXTEL are finally in a position where we are growing and making some money so it's good to be able to inject some executive time back and we see corporate social responsibility as a very important thing for FOXTEL to be involved in.''

NSW Minister for Volunteering Linda Burney said that employer sponsored volunteering is an increasingly important way that business is engaging with the not for profit sector in NSW.

“This kind of exchange in skills, ideas and experiences is benefitting everyone involved. Volunteering often gives as much to the volunteer as it does to the recipient of their services,” Ms Burney said.

goodcompany will be holding an event to allow potential volunteers learn more about the organisation on May 15 in Sydney and on May 13 in Melbourne.