PriceWaterhouse Coopers comes to the rescue
In an example of true Australian spirit, PricewaterhouseCoopers staff came to Endeavour’s rescue immediately after Cyclone Larry hit the Innisfail area, by first donating their own personal generators to help ease the nightmare of Endeavour’s cyclone-ravaged staff and clients, and then by raising approximately $80,000, which has gone towards re-establishing the staff and clients’ lives.

“As soon as we heard that Cyclone Larry had devastated the Innisfail community, we thought of the Endeavour clients, and their staff who provide them with crucial support,” said PricewaterhouseCoopers Foundation National Coordinator Carolyn Bruce.  “We gave Endeavour a call and asked ‘what do you need?’  The first thing they wanted was generators.”

Approximately 40 Endeavour clients/supported employees, and 18 staff were affected by the cyclone in some way.  Many staff and clients suffered severe damage to their homes, and some staff have partners who lost their jobs when surrounding farms were flattened.

“Endeavour’s property loss in the overall scheme of things was relatively small,” explained Endeavour’s General Manager Disability Services Margaret Dalton, “But the personal trauma and property loss experienced by clients and staff cannot be underestimated.  Therefore, Endeavour is particularly grateful for the prompt reaction from PricewaterhouseCoopers.  The generators have made a big difference to our staff and clients, but more importantly, the genuine expression of concern meant a lot to us.”

Endeavour staff followed organisation Cyclone Procedure and evacuated clients where necessary, taking them to Cairns to be temporarily accommodated.

“We know the Endeavour staff have worked long, hard hours, even to the point of putting their own personal lives aside for the benefit of their clients,” said Ms Bruce.  “These guys are heroes and deserve all the help they can get.”

PricewaterhouseCoopers matched dollar-for-dollar the funds raised by its own staff.