Our region’s most worthy to share in half a million dollars
Thirty diverse community projects and programs have shared in $500,000 thanks to the Geelong Community Foundation’s 2011 grants program.
The local programs funded aim to benefit the most disadvantaged in our region, helping to create a stronger, more resilient community. Grants cover a range of community needs and interests such as education, training, research, community wellbeing and support for the aged, families, health, youth and the arts.
Some of the 30 organisations to benefit include Diversitat, Pregnancy Help Geelong, Glastonbury, Urban Seed, Lifeline, Ocean Grove Neighbourhood House, Special Olympics Barwon Region, Multicultural Aged Care and Lorne Sculpture Exhibition 2011.
Foundation Chair Mrs Val Lawrence said that the role of the Geelong Community Foundation is to fund projects and programs that will make a lasting difference in the Geelong region. The Foundation builds up a corpus of funds or capital fund, and annually allocates the earned interest to community grants.
“We simply would not be in a position to grant this amount of money if it were not for the continued generosity of our Foundation donors, whose total contributions are now valued at over $12 million”, Mrs Lawrence said. “In 2011 we are in a position to fund grants valued at $100,000 more than last year which indicates just how generous our donors have been.”
$200,000 “bonus” for Geelong Community Foundation
Dr Denis Napthine Minister for Regional Cities announced that the Foundation is the recipient of a $300,000 state government grant.
In addition to the Foundation’s private and company donors, in 2010 the Victorian government granted $100,000 with a promise of a further $200,000 if the Foundation could raise $100,000 through its own fundraising. With the proceeds from the successful Adroit corporate golf day and a gala fundraiser dinner, the target was soon reached.
“The Geelong Community Foundation has met the government’s challenge, and I am delighted to announce this bonus $200,000 funding,” Dr Napthine said. “From its funding pool, in turn, the Foundation supports local programs and projects which address big local challenges like low retention rates, skills shortages and unemployment,” he said.
Dr Napthine congratulated the local community and donors for their generosity and hard work. “Local businesses have swung in to marshall fundraising efforts through your Golf Day, and many in the local community danced the night away at your fundraising dinner dance. And there have been generous donations from local residents and businesses too,” he said.
“The Geelong Community Foundation is extremely grateful to the Victorian government for the $300,000 grant which will be used to focus on programs in Corio, Norlane and Whittington” Mrs Lawrence said.