The Whitbread broking family’s charity foundation has passed the $1 million mark for donations since its formation in 2011.

But director Claire Whitbread says there is much more to be done.

“We put as much into our philanthropic success as we do our business success,” she told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“Running the foundation is a bit like running a business; you see you’re doing well, you see you’re making a difference in people’s lives, and you want to do more.”

Ms Whitbread, along with siblings Angela and John Paul, started the foundation in honour of their late parents John and Margaret, who founded Melbourne-based Whitbread Insurance Brokers Group in 1978.

The foundation’s charter is to “support charities that contribute to systemic change through education, which breaks the cycle of poverty and disadvantage”.

It is currently investing in the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s Innovation Hub, Melbourne City Mission’s education program for disengaged and homeless children, the Hunger Project and charities in Africa.

Ms Whitbread says there is a limit to the number of charities the family supports at any time, because it favours personal involvement – whether working in a kitchen for the homeless or sitting on a board.

“When we invest in a charity, we want to get involved.”