Built on Collaboration

The task was a teambuilding event, part of our company's 3-day global

sales conference that has just finished up in the Malaysian capital. We had six hours to do everything needed to turn a disused double garage into a bright, inspirational classroom for some of the 43 kids at the home. While our company, Aconex, started the ball rolling with a donation, a large part of the challenge to staff was to raise funds, on the day, for materials, furniture, and whatever we would need to put on dinner and a party for the children that night. My blog post on Monday was part of that fundraising effort.

The result far exceeded what we, and the Lighthouse home, had dared to hope for. By the end of the day, we had raised over RM30,000 (close to US$10,000), an amount that goes a long, long way in Malaysia. We received support and introductions from members of the Malaysia Australia Business Council, and from the Malaysian chapter of The Lighthouse Club, a construction industry charity (that shares a name with the children's home, but is otherwise not related).

As well as Aconex staff, many of our suppliers and clients came on board, with donations of either cash or materials. One highlight was the gift of an air conditioning unit from from ANZ Cool (thanks to Ms Kuan at the Subang Jaya outlet). Another was the offer by the hotel we were staying at (www.pacific-regency.com) to make the Lighthouse home their corporate good cause for December. A proportion of all food and beverage revenue will go to the home, as will money raised at the hotel chain's corporate Christmas party, and there will be a month long promotional tie in with a local radio station, too. We are hoping that all of this will raise at least another RM50,000, or US$15,000.

You can still make a donation (until 30 Nov 2009) at www.paypal.com. The account is lighthouse@aconex.com. All donations will go directly to the Lighthouse home, and you can read more about their great work here

A final note: part of the challenge was to make, within the six hours, a video that the Lighthouse can use to show other potential corporate supports what can be achieved in an afternoon of fun and hard work. You can see that below.

Again, thanks to those who showed such great support.