Macquarie Group Joins Hands with JRS for World Refugee Day

29 July 2025

JRS and Macquarie Group staff pack boxes of items to donate to JRS Australia's Foodbank on World Refugee Day 2025.

In celebration of Refugee Week 2025, JRS Australia collaborated with the Macquarie Group Foundation, whose commitment to social impact came to life in a powerful way.

Over 150 Macquarie employees rolled up their sleeves to pack 100 hampers filled with essential items for individuals and families supported by JRS. The hampers, thoughtfully assembled, included messages of welcome and went directly to refugees and people seeking asylum who access JRS Australia’s Foodbank every week.

“The joy on our clients’ faces when they received the hampers was heartwarming,” shared Vaish, Food & Material Aid Officer at JRS Australia. “It was a gesture of kindness and dignity that resonated deeply.”

Alongside the hamper packing event, Macquarie employees raised funds to support JRS programs that assist people seeking safety and opportunity in Australia.

“It was fantastic to see our corporate friends at Macquarie Group get involved and support our work so generously,” shared Kamal Kamalaneson, Head of Strategy and Operational Sustainability (SOS) at JRS Australia.

“We’re all members of the same community after all – and it’s important that we stand together and lift each other up, especially during Refugee Week.”

It's important that we stand together and lift each other up, especially during Refugee Week.
Kamal Kamalaneson, Head of SOS at JRS Australia

This special initiative reflects the Macquarie Group Foundation’s mission to empower people to build a better future. Their generous financial and non-financial contributions align closely with JRS’s work in accompaniment, service, and advocacy for refugees and people seeking asylum.

Macquarie Group staff alongside Kamal, loading over 100 boxes of donated food and personal items into a van headed for JRS Australia’s Foodbank!

Corporate Engagement that Makes a Difference

This event not only made a tangible difference to JRS clients but also exemplified what’s possible when corporate teams engage meaningfully with community causes. The experience left a lasting impression on both sides and provided a shining example of social impact in action.

We are sincerely grateful to Macquarie Group and the Macquarie Group Foundation for their ongoing support and allyship. We hope this initiative inspires other corporate organisations to get involved, because together, we can create a more just, compassionate and welcoming Australia!

If your organisation is interested in collaborating with JRS, please reach out — we would love to hear from you. Contact philanthropy@jrs.org.au to get involved!