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New Benevolent chairman pledges JF Hillebrand will match customer donations

Published:  09 January, 2013

Drinks logistics firm JF Hillebrand has pledged to match donations made by its customers to The Benevolent as director Chris Porter begins a two-year stint as the charity's chairman.

Drinks logistics firm JF Hillebrand has pledged to match donations made by its customers to The Benevolent as director Chris Porter begins a two-year stint as the charity's chairman.

Porter, director of the Porter & Laker Division at JF Hillebrand, will be officially appointed chairman on Friday at a trade lunch at The Vintners' Hall.

Porter has over 25 years' experience as a logistics provider to the independent wine trade and is the second chairman in the charity's 126 year history to come from a logistics background.

JF Hillebrand will ask its customers to donate £1 to The Benevolent for each order placed, and pledged to match each £1 donated.

The funds raised will be used to help members of the trade and their families facing long-term illness, homelessness, poverty and disability.

Porter said he hoped that asking companies to make a donation would fulfill the dual role of raising the charity's profile with members of the trade who have been less involved so far.

"I am personally appealing to senior figures of our industry to be ambassadors for The Benevolent within their own organisations. It is the decision makers within our community that can best support junior members of the trade becoming more actively involved.

"The ongoing development of a network of support for The Benevolent is critical to ensure the trade is still looking after its own in another 126 years," he said.

Paul Newman, chief executive of The Benevolent said: "I am delighted that Chris is already taking such a hands-on approach to his chairmanship. His unparalleled connections within the trade, combined with his fresh and innovative leadership style, is a winning formula. He is ideally placed to engage all branches of the trade and place The Benevolent at the heart of the drinks industry."

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