Media Release: Thank you, Ardoch , for our Volunteering Queensland award

Brisbane, 13 June 2018: Clayton Utz is proud to have received the Corporate Volunteering Award at the Queensland Volunteering Awards 2018 for its participation in Ardoch Youth Foundation's (Ardoch) Literacy Buddies® program at Murarrie State School in Brisbane's east. 

Ardoch is one of Clayton Utz's long-term community partners, and nominated the firm for the volunteering efforts of twenty-four Brisbane partners and employees who exchange letters with twenty-four Murarrie primary school students through the Literacy Buddies® program. 

Ardoch's Literacy Buddies® program matches school students ("Little Buddies") with corporate volunteers ("Big Buddies"), who exchange monthly letters to help improve the students' literacy and inspire their learning. The Buddies also meet face-to-face twice a year.  

Clayton Utz has participated in the Brisbane program with Murarrie State School since 2011. The end-of-year celebration is a highlight for the Clayton Utz volunteers and their Little Buddies, who get to meet a well-known children's author and receive a signed copy of one of their books.  Recent guest authors include Australian Children's Laureate Morris Gleitzman (author of titles such as Sticky Beak, Blabber Mouth, Belly Flop) and Nick Earls (New Boy, The Curious Dictionary, The Lost Hunter).  

Brisbane partner Mark Mackay accepted the award on behalf of Clayton Utz from the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, at a function at Brisbane City Hall on 25 May. The award reads: "Clayton Utz - In recognition of the significant impact and contribution your company has made to the State and the Community of Queensland through its employee volunteering program". 

Ardoch is a children’s education charity focused on improving educational outcomes for children and young people in disadvantaged communities.  Nearly 100 Clayton Utz people volunteer with Ardoch's Literacy Buddies® programs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.   

The 2018 Queensland Volunteering Awards honour the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and businesses that invest in employee volunteering programs to bring about positive change in our communities.