The senior executive’s advocacy is driven in part by his personal experience with the disease
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Running is a lifestyle for many health and fitness enthusiasts. More than just a way to shed kilos and keep ailments at bay, it also helps clear their minds.
But The Savings Centre CEO Matt Punter considers running as more than just a sport. He is an avid marathon runner who has also channelled his passion into a higher purpose. Punter and his wife Nerida – who leads the firm’s marketing and strategy division – have launched “Injecting Hope”, a campaign to support not-for-profit organisation Insulin for Life. The charity collects and distributes insulin and other diabetes supplies that would otherwise be wasted.
The couple have pledged to run 5,000km in one year to raise $10,000 for the charity. This is no easy task, but they already find time to run their business and run for sport. In 2016, they finished the Blackall 100 – a 100km ultramarathon in Queensland.
Despite starting just last October, they’ve already knocked off 1,200km and raised $3,500 in donations and sponsorships.
Giving back
The couple’s advocacy stems from their personal experience with the disease. Punter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes almost ten years ago – he knows exactly what it means to live with the condition. The couple can’t imagine what it is like for those with no access to adequate medical supplies, and so decided to take action.
"We're keen to teach our three kids the value of giving back and how rewarding it can be for everyone involved," Punter said.
Punter has been in the financial industry for over two decades, with experience in banking, mortgage broking, property legals, and budgeting. He admits it's not easy to balance a rapidly growing business, family life, and charity work. But he’s thankful for having a dependable work team, and family and friends to help keep things in order.
In an interview with MPA, Punter offered three tips to brokers who want to make a difference:
- Choose a charity that has significant meaning to you: "Raised funds that go to a cause that's close to our hearts motivates us to continue with our big challenge of running a great distance,” Punter said.
- Ensure complete transparency: Punter’s team conducts due diligence to make sure funds go directly to the front lines so they can attend to those most in need.
- Ask questions: Once a broker decides to make a social contribution in some way, he or she should enlist the local community to help out. Asking suppliers and friends within one's business and local community for campaign ideas can become a pleasant surprise. It's also a great opportunity to foster reciprocal business.
Injecting Hope keeps things in perspective for Punter. Although negotiating with lenders and managing client’s needs takes a lot of work, Punter admits he is still blessed to live in a country that offers vast opportunities. For him, supporting a cause cultivates his attitude of gratitude.
He also believes Injecting Hope gives his company a point of difference that interests many brokers and other business people in general.
"Charity campaigns highlight the fact that behind the 'Mortgage Broker' shingle on the door, there are people that take active participation in the community, a positive force that can be relied upon to do what they say they'd do," Punter said.
