Staff Involvement

Element	Benefit
	A group of employees from Bayer’s Perth office recently used their Give leave day to plant trees. Colleagues from across the business helped to plant 260 trees at the School of Agriculture and Environment, Northam Campus. Daffodil Day is always a popular volunteering opportunity for Bayer staff, generating important funds for the Cancer Council, a cause that is close to many people's hearts. Nearly 20 employees from Bayer HealthCare and Bayer CropScience took to the streets to sell Daffodil merchandise this year. Tina, from Bayer CropScience, tries to take part every year. "Manning a stand for a few hours is time well spent if we help find a cure for cancer," she said. Two employees, Bob and Chris, from Bayer’s Consumer Care division spent their day of Give leave preparing food for the homeless. Bob says, “It made me realise how lucky we all are, and how very different our lives could be.” .
	Each March for the past four years, locks have fallen as Bayer employees shave their heads for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World's Greatest Shave. To date, more than $10,000 has been raised through this initiative. David from Bayer Schering Pharma has now shaved his head for four years in a row. He explains, "My Dad suffered from a form of leukaemia a few years ago so this is a cause close to my heart. Luckily Dad is well again now but research into this disease is so important to help save other lives too." Every year Bayer sites across Australia are filled with the aroma of freshly baked goodies in support of the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea fundraising event. Since the Give program began in 2005, over $22,000 has been donated to the Cancer Council through this and other themed fundraisers. A 40 hour famine, a sponsored bike ride, a chocolate drive and a cake sale are just some of the other ways Bayer employees have raised money for charity all of which have been matched by Bayer.
	Denise in Bayer’s Animal Health division is particularly passionate about charities that benefit animals, such as the Animals Asia Foundation. She donates each month from her pre-tax salary and this is matched by Bayer. She says, "It's only a small amount every month but it all helps to make a difference." One employee from Bayer’s Pymble office dedicates some of her salary to the Australian Bush Heritage Fund. "I don't think people realise just how important it is that we preserve the bush that we have. All I had to do is fill in a form, and the tax is already taken care of!" Her donation is matched dollar for dollar by Bayer. There is no doubt that World Vision child sponsorship is a popular choice for payroll giving at Bayer. Marcia from Bayer’s Finance and Administration department, says, "It breaks my heart to think of so many children living in poverty all over the world." Bayer matches the donation made each month by Marcia to World Vision.
	A staff sponsorship grant has helped one Bayer employee, Lisa, fulfill her life-long ambition of going to Africa to volunteer in an orphanage. Lisa says, “This really was the most incredible and worthwhile experience.” Craig from Bayer CropScience was allocated a grant by Bayer to help transport blankets collected in Melbourne to Afghanistan where they were needed by Mahboba’s Promise, an organisation dedicated to helping women and children in need. He says, "I hate to think of all the children who have been orphaned due to war and disease." The Give program has helped the 12 year old son of a Bayer employee finance his participation in the National Schools Swimming Championships in Perth. The young athlete recently dominated the NSW State Championships going through undefeated winning six gold medals: a feat only previously achieved by Olympians Ian Thorpe and Kenrick Monk.