How MGA insurance invests in young lives
For Philanthropy Week, we sat down with Kelly Commins, Branch Manager at MGA Insurance Group, to explore what happens when a business stops asking what's in it for us, and starts asking what can we do.
When Kelly Commins first encountered TRACTION for Young People, it wasn't a slick pitch deck or a corporate sponsorship proposal that won him over, it was the people.
"From CEO through to the mentors and support team, everyone was extremely passionate about what they do and why,” said Kelly. “That rubs off on anyone who spends time with them. And learning about the results they deliver was of course a driver for us."
This sense of human connection sits at the heart of a partnership that has grown into something far more meaningful than a line item on a corporate giving budget.
A values-led decision
MGA Insurance Group has spent 50 years standing by Australians with trusted risk advice and general insurance solutions. It's a business built on relationships, on showing up when things go wrong, on being reliable. So when the MGA team evaluated what we do here at TRACTION, the alignment felt natural.
"When you take the time to really dig into what TRACTION does," Kelly explains, "it represented an opportunity to have a very real, positive impact on our community."
The structure of MGA's support reflects this genuine intent to help.
Rather than a one-off donation, MGA built a commercial referral agreement where a percentage of every relevant policy flows directly to TRACTION, creating a funding stream that has the potential to grow year on year.
They also came on board sponsoring our annual BEYOND for TRACTIONCycling Challenge, with Kelly himself pulling on the Lycra and riding to raise funds each year.
And Kelly is direct when asked what he'd say to businesses who think philanthropy means writing a cheque once and moving on.
“It’s extremely important for organisations like TRACTION to have consistent income sources to allow for confident future planning. Our aim in setting up the commercial referral agreement was to work on building a renewable source of funds that has the potential to grow each year.”
TRACTION's programs, which pair young people experiencing disengagement with professional mentors through practical projects like building bikes, require continuity of funding to deliver continuity of care. Sporadic donations, however generous, make that harder to plan around.
What giving gives back
The question of return on investment can feel uncomfortable in the context of philanthropy, but Kelly doesn't shy away from it. And his answer is less about brand value than about something harder to put on a spreadsheet.
"It's certainly changed the way we all see the world… we work far more closely as a team."
That shift in perspective, from transactional to relational, from individual to collective, is perhaps one of the less-discussed dividends of purpose-driven giving. And it shows up most vividly in the BEYOND Cycling Challenge.
"It's about being part of something that is totally unselfish and being surrounded by like-minded individuals," he reflects. "The physical difficulty of participating in the event brings with it a very unique sense of achievement and fulfilment - certainly on a personal level, but also as a wider group.”
He recalls a quote that stuck with him: "If you want to build strong relationships, do something together that is so difficult that you couldn't possibly do it on your own."
BEYOND, he says, fits that description perfectly. "To see a group of individuals from all different backgrounds working together to get everyone to the finish line safely builds a strong community of supporters. It’s a privilege to be a part of, for such a great cause!"
For Kelly, the call to action for other businesses couldn't be clearer.
“Quite simply, if you can, then you should. No child chooses their individual circumstances and if you are in a fortunate enough position to be able to help, then you should.”
We’re extremely grateful for MGA’s long term investment and collaboration, and want to thank Kelly for his dedication to the cause, on and off the bike!
As our Head of Programs, Oscar Sullivan, points out, “This partnership represents more than just financial support, it's an example of how businesses can use their influence to drive positive social change. Investment goes directly to funding our programs and reaching more young people, every day and every year."
MGA Insurance Group is a national insurance brokerage headquartered in Adelaide, with over 40 offices around Australia. In 2025, they celebrated 50 years of standing by Australians with trusted risk advice and general insurance solutions.
