Sage hits $1 million fundraising target for grassroots charities around the world

London, Reading (March 17, 2019) — Tech market leader Sage (FTSE:SGE), has announced the completion of its US$1 million fundraising effort, and its intention to now double this target.

CEO Steve Hare joins colleagues today at the Sage Reading Half Marathon to celebrate the total raised by colleagues, partners and customers around the world. He set the fundraising challenge just over a year ago on behalf of Sage’s philanthropic division Sage Foundation.

Sage Foundation unifies colleagues and partners in a global programme of social change philanthropy, helping tens of thousands of people through more than 1,000 charities supported in its communities.

Over 13,000 Sage colleagues across 23 markets are invited to dedicate five paid days a year to support charities close to their hearts, through voluntary work and fundraising challenges. Sage Foundation seeks to improve economic stability and social equality for beneficiaries, with strategic objectives aligned to six United Nations sustainable development goals.

“Through our sponsorship of the Sage Reading Half Marathon, we are very happy to support the event’s many thousands of runners – and their chosen charities,” said Steve Hare. “For us, it also marks a very special milestone, having achieved the $1 Million Challenge.

“From bake sales and cycling events, to dance-a-thons and marathons, Sage colleagues, customers and partners have dedicated themselves to helping others. The challenge brought board-level colleagues together with apprentices, the Sage partner community, and everyone in-between, working shoulder to shoulder on experiences which were inspiring, rewarding and meaningful, both to them and their chosen charities. So, I’m setting a new global goal – the $2 Million Challenge.”

Sage Foundation Vice President Debbie Wall adds: “The breadth and diversity of the great charities supported is remarkable – amounting to more than 1,000 in total. The success shows how closely our Sage Foundation goals are integrated into every day working life at Sage.

“The cumulative impact, by activating our teams in this way, is impressive. Our colleagues climbed Australia’s three tallest peaks in 30 hours, cycled from London to Newcastle, joined a spin-a-thon in South Africa and made donations at Carnival parties in Brazil, to name just a handful of great events.”

Paul Struthers, EVP and Managing Director for Sage Canada, congratulated the team on their contribution to the global challenge, saying: “My colleagues and I raised funds as teams riding multi-person bikes, in Toronto and in Richmond.

“We had great fun doing it and we were incredibly grateful to all our supporters. Thanks to everyone’s efforts we raised $4,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation https://www.heartandstroke.ca/

“The money will support research into preventing heart attacks and strokes in the future. It will also support services for those who have suffered from heart disease or strokes.”

About Sage

Sage (FTSE: SGE) is the global market leader for technology that helps businesses of all sizes manage everything from money to people – whether they’re a start-up, scale-up or enterprise. We do this through Sage Business Cloud - the one and only business management solution that customers will ever need, comprising Accounting, Financials, Enterprise Management, People & Payroll and Payments & Banking.

Our mission is to free business builders from the burden of admin, so they can spend more time doing what they love – and we do that every day for three million customers across 23 countries, through our 13,000 colleagues and a network of accountants and partners. We are committed to doing business the right way and giving back to our communities through the Sage Foundation.

For more about Sage Foundation take a look at this film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbqKdoeCi2o&feature=youtu.be.

Media contact:

Lise Colyer
Sage
Mobile: + (0)7896 503 804
Lise.Colyer@Sage.com