Tees Business Tees Business Issue 21 | Page 93

CH A R I TY We are an Infant Hercules Business backing for Tees charity club T eesside is full of ethical, charitable, giving businesses - and 17 of them, including Tees Business, have put their money where their mouths are to back a new charity push. They have all joined Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation’s new Infant Hercules Charity Club. Each of the businesses and individuals have generously agreed to donate £1,000 a year (or £100 a month) as their commitment to helping us support local community groups and struggling Teesside families. More small Teesside businesses are being invited to join the Philanthropic Foundation’s new corporate membership club. The chance to spend time learning from some of Teesside’s most successful business leaders is just one of the advantages smaller businesses will receive through the foundation’s new level of corporate membership. The Infant Hercules Charity Club is designed to appeal to successful but smaller businesses who couldn’t commit to the sums involved with being a Foundation patron but are keen to support local charities and worthy causes. Benefits of membership include an invitation to an exclusive, intimate quarterly business gathering - limited to one representative from each member organisation – where prominent local business leaders will tell their story, offer business tips and take part in a Q&A with members. Already confirmed as speakers at the gatherings are three of the region’s most respected business leaders – Tanya Garland of Foundation patrons Cool Blue Brand Communications, who founded the charity with current Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston, patron Bill Scott MBE, CEO of Port Clarence-based Wilton Engineering, and Gary Dawson, managing director of another of the charity’s patrons, Middlesbrough firm AV Dawson. Philanthropic Foundation trustee Emily Bentley said: “We are excited about the potential for the Infant Hercules Charity Club to enable many more businesses to support our foundation and help the most needy groups and individuals right here on Teesside.” Founding members of the Charity Club, along with Tees Business, are Stockton accountancy firm Abacus Bean, JH Mechanical Services, Solutions Recruitment, HR Alchemy, Property and Land Information (PALI), engineering consultants Durata UK, ITS, Steel River Consultants, Communicate Technology, the Serviced Accommodation Company, M Wasley Chapman & Co and Resolution Communications. Mark Kenrick, the Cunningham Family, Jeremy O’Connor and Nigel and Claire Vaughan. Backed by major local businesses such as Bulkhaul, Cleveland Cable Company and AV Dawson, Teesside Philanthropic Foundation has raised more than £3m since its formation in 2011, with the vast majority already donated to a wide range of Teesside worthy causes. Other benefits of joining the Infant Hercules Charity Club include: > The opportunity to publicly show support and make a difference to the most disadvantaged Teessiders > To see your business listed and personally mix with some of Teesside’s most influential, successful businesses and business leaders > Company logo on charity website > Article on the charity’s popular Facebook feed and mentions on Twitter when signing up For more details, visit teessidecharity.org.uk or email diane.w@teessidecharity.org.uk. The voice of business in the Tees region | 93