eftpos today announced that its 2012 Giveback campaign had successfully achieved its target to donate $1 million to Vision Australia, following a final boost from last-minute Christmas shoppers.
eftpos CEO Bruce Mansfield thanked Australian shoppers who supported the Giveback campaign in the lead up to Christmas by pressing CHQ and SAV at the checkout.
The donation will assist Vision Australia to fulfil its long-time ambition to build a new, world-class Seeing Eye Dog breeding and training centre in Melbourne. The centre will significantly increase the number of Seeing Eye Dogs available, and provide state-of-the-art training facilities.
Mr Mansfield said that to achieve the $1 million donation, eftpos simply needed to meet or beat last year’s eftpos transaction volumes in the lead up to Christmas.
”In the spirit of giving at Christmas, we asked Australian shoppers to support the Giveback campaign, and they have not let us down,” Mr Mansfield said. “We are confident that we have reached the target to donate $1 million in full.
“A big thank you to all the shoppers and merchants who supported the Giveback campaign again this year, particularly in the busy week before Christmas.
“There is no doubt that in the case of Giveback, a little button can do a lot of good. By pressing CHQ and SAV, shoppers have helped eftpos donate to a great cause which will have a lasting impact on the community.
“Using eftpos for purchases at this time of year also helps many Australians take control of their spending by accessing their own money.”
Vision Australia’s General Manager of Seeing Eye Dogs and Mobility, Leigh Garwood, welcomed the news that Giveback had reached the $1 million target, and thanked everyone who supported the campaign.
Mr Garwood said the new centre would be finished in 2013 and construction had already commenced.
He said the facility would improve the lives of many Australians who are blind or have low vision and are currently on long waiting lists to be matched to trained Seeing Eye Dogs.