2024 Charity Christmas lunch

The Australian Office Products Charitable Fund has ended 2024 on a high by raising more than $130,000 in cash, stock and book packs on behalf of a range of children’s charities.

 

The total includes proceeds of more than $30,000 from last week’s Christmas charity lunch in Sydney, attended by more than 160 guests.

 

Charity Fund chairman John Donaghy said the new format, which provided more “networking opportunities” was a success as was the “Win a $5000 Diamond’ promotion, sponsored by Our Town & Country Office National.

 

The winner of the diamond was Paul Astbury, Pilot Pen’s general manager – finance and administration, who will take over as the company’s CEO following the retirement of Scott Thornton in February.

 

Donaghy, managing director of Discount Office National, urged fellow dealers to “support the organisations and suppliers who assist the Charity Fund and the scores of children’s charities that it has supported for more than 20 years.”

 

“A big thank you to our sponsors, who have consistently supported the charity and its events over many years,” Donaghy said.

 

 Charities that will benefit from this year’s fund-raising events include BNI Foundation, Roundabout Canberra, Dandelion Support Network and Bears of Hope.

 

 Major sponsors included ACCO Brands, Complete Office Supplies, Office Brands, Winc Australia and Dynamic Supplies.

 

This year’s launch also featured a tribute to Dom Lyone, founder and chairman of Complete Office Supplies, who sadly passed away in October following a stroke.

 

A special presentation was made to long-serving ACCO Brands national account manager, Roy Leggo, who will retire at the end of the year after 46 years with the same organisation. 

 

PHOTO: Retiring ACCO Brands national account manager Roy Leggo (centre) with former colleague Brian Brown (Neon) and Hilda Sung (Winc). .