Sydney, Australia. 2009.2.6 - Foodbank Australia reported today a greater than three-fold increase in cash donations in the second quarter of the current financial year compared with the same period in FY07/08.
 

 
CEO Bronwyn Boekenstein directly attributed this dramatic increase to the e.commerce functionality of the Foodbank website. "It is largely because our website is so engaging, that we have captured these donations. Several companies and even individuals have donated a thousand dollars or more online, which is far more convenient that the effort required to write and post a cheque" Ms Boekenstein concluded.
 
Foodbank Australia is the national organisation responsible for promoting the foodbank concept to the food industry, the federal government, national companies and the general public. Apart from the major donation target of food, Foodbank Australia relies upon donations of cash, time/labour, goods and services to continue its work.
 
In 2008, Digital Tsunami integrated e.commerce into the website, with donations pages for the national and each of the state Foodbanks. With the support of ANZ, the eGate payment gateway was implemented to securely deposit donations directly into the bank account of the relevant Foodbank.
 
Foodbank Australia has been the primary focus of CSR for Digital Tsunami, which has sponsored the organisation since 2000. Consistent with its' brandline of "Communications Evolution", Digital Tsunami has encouraged Foodbank to implement proven innovative technologies to communicate more effectively.
 
Over the last decade, Foodbank has implemented a strong new identity, stylish print collaterals, a consistent online presence, and impressive videos. All these have contributed to effectively conveying the Foodbank message.
 
"Foodbank has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years, and there is no doubt that the new Foodbank website, designed, built and maintained pro bono by Digital Tsunami, has been the principle tool in telling the story of hunger in Australia, and lifting Foodbank's profile as a solution. Foodbank just wouldn't be where we are today without Digital Tsunami", insists CEO Bronwyn Boekenstein.
 
The state Foodbanks receive fresh, frozen and packaged food and grocery products from manufacturers around the country. These products are distributed to Australians in need, by more than 2,500 welfare agencies.
 
Products are perfectly safe and suitable for consumption, but may have damaged packaging, incorrect labeling, be legally underweight, have too little date to allow normal retail sale, or have other characteristics (like details of competitions which have ended), which render them unsaleable. Rather than dumping, which has negative impact on the manufacturer's bottom line as well as on the environment, Foodbank offers a cost-effective, non-competitive, socially responsible, one-stop-shop solution.
 
For many years, Digital Tsunami has also supported the Hong Kong charity, Helping Hand, principally through the dedicated efforts of Country Manager, Mr. Andy Chan. Helping Hand mounts an annual campaign promoting the sale of moon cakes to benefit the elderly. Celebrity Jackie Cheung is the face of the campaign, appearing in print advertising and on billboards in MTR stations across Hong Kong.
 
Digital Tsunami delivers solutions to corporations across a broad range of sectors including Communications Media, Consumer Goods, Corporate Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, IT, Manufacturing and Tourism.
 
Digital Tsunami delivers an extensive range of services within the 6 disciplines of eStrategy, film, identity, interactive, photography and print.