CountPlus has donated $100,000 to Lifeline to assist with the establishment of their Bushfire Recovery Line, following the devastating fires that have occurred in recent months across Australia.

Count Financial, which transitioned to CountPlus ownership in October last year, raised $25,000 through a dedicated fundraising campaign across the network. This was then matched by the Count Charitable Foundation, with CountPlus and Count Financial founder Barry Lambert providing an additional personal donation of $50,000.

Lifeline’s Bushfire Recovery Line (13 HELP), is being established to support people and communities affected by the bushfires. Lifeline’s calls have increased by more than 10% since December, illustrating the magnitude of the despair being felt by victims and the heightened need to provide crisis support and suicide prevention services in the aftermath of this summer’s fires.

“Count Financial turns 40 later this year, and CountPlus will celebrate a decade of being listed on the ASX in 2020 too, so this is a big year for both organisations,” CountPlus CEO, Matthew Rowe, said. “We have always given back to the communities we serve, and this year we want to help make a change in an area that has been so visible and heartbreaking for all Australians.

“We believe that, as professionals, financial advisers should give back to their communities, and our firms donate pro bono hours to local community groups in addition to philanthropic giving. A professional is a debtor to their profession, and the community they serve. Unfortunately, even once the fires are out, the distress and trauma continues for many people who need to rebuild their lives from the ground up, so this donation will help Lifeline achieve its fundraising goal of $1 million to establish this vital new service.”

The Count Charitable Foundation was set up by Joy and Barry Lambert in 2004 with the objective of helping firms within the Count Financial network realise their charitable intentions and give back to their local communities.

The Foundation is an independent organisation, generously supported by an annual donation from Count Financial and regular donations from its Members – comprising more than 100 businesses and individuals in the CountPlus and Count Financial networks.

Members can apply to the Foundation to match their fundraising initiatives dollar for dollar – and in some instances, more than that – which is then distributed to the causes nominated by those individual Members or firms.

This year, the Count Charitable Foundation will distribute more than $1 million in funds to causes spearheaded by its firms.