Boral, Australia's leading international supplier of building and construction materials, is the inaugural winner of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's "Freedom Award".

Over 1,250 Boral employees and their families raised and donated $82,000 for research to find a cure for type 1 (also known as juvenile) diabetes.

Fielding a number of motivated fundraising teams from their offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney, Boral donated the highest amount of any team in the Walk To Cure Diabetes in Australia in 2003.

"The Freedom Award represents the mission of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes" said Sheila Royles, CEO of JDRF.

"A cure will mean freedom for the 100,000 Australians who live with this dangerous disease - freedom from a life ruled by injections and blood tests, and freedom from the tragic health complications associated with diabetes."

"We are deeply grateful to Boral and its employees for their wonderful contribution. With this level of support, finding a cure is only a matter of time," she said.

The Walk To Cure Diabetes is an annual fundraising event for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which funds around $10 million of diabetes research around the country each year. Australia's largest charity walk, it is also the nation's premiere corporate employee engagement event.

Boral raised $82,000 nationally through staff fundraising activities and donations. Examples of the many fundraising activities held throughout the year include a golf day, jelly baby guessing competitions, raffles, trivia nights, mufti days, baby photo guessing competition, supplier support days, radio station auctions, BBQ's, a swear box, trail of treasure, a meat auction, bake-off, cake stall and handball competition.

"Naturally we are delighted to receive the Freedom Award from JDRF," said Rod Pearse, CEO of Boral. "Boral employees across the country were committed to making a significant contribution to diabetes research. It took a great deal of work and I commend them all for their achievement," he said.

"Our participation in the Walk To Cure Diabetes aligns very well with our organisation's core values of leadership., respect, performance and persistence. I'm particularly proud that this result was driven by Boral employees themselves. It was fully supported by all senior management and involved over one thousand people across the country," he said.

The Value of Employee Engagement

Progressive organizations like Boral have taken note of research that confirms the significant impact employee engagement can have on many aspects of organizational success, including recruitment, employee retention, productivity, innovation, corporate reputation and profitability.

Boral's involvement with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation was initiated three years ago from a suggestion by employees with a connection to the disease. Immediately supported by senior management, the campaign has grown from strength to strength, from raising $10,000 in 2001 to $82,000 in 2003. Such a fantastic result required dedication from individuals across Boral's various divisions, businesses and states.

"Ultimately the benefits of our involvement with JDRF extended beyond feeling proud of our financial contribution," said Mr Pearse.

"Wide involvement in the Walk promoted great team spirit and camaraderie among the employees who participated. We were able to 'walk the talk' and send a strong signal to employees and the community that we care about the health and welfare of the community."

"From an organizational perspective it enabled us to identify rising leaders within the company. Employees had a great opportunity to demonstrate and develop their leadership skills by being a Team Captain or Champion. Employees also benefited from the networking opportunity and working with people from all divisions and levels of the company." he said.

For further information:

Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0400 (x203) or 0403 787 077 | email: kandrews@jdrf.org.au

OR

Giovanna Losinno, HR Manager, Boral
Ph. (02) 9220 6418 or 0401 895 891
Email: Giovanna.Losinno@boral.com.au