LOCAL philanthropy is alive and well in the region with more than 30 south-west projects and organisations to share a $100,000 cash boost.
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The 2015 South West Community Foundation Grants were announced on Friday and will provide financial support across a range of areas including education, health, youth, arts and culture.
Chairman Barrie Baker said the foundation was pleased to make an ever-increasing range of grants and an increased demand in applications saw the submission of 66 grant applications worth almost $300,000.
“The steady increase in our corpus funds arising from the generosity of our community has meant that we have more income to share around,” Mr Baker said.
Seven youth and education projects were supported. They included pilot trialling of a school nurturing room as part of the regional Beyond the Bell program which is seeking ways to improve educational aspirations and outcomes of the south-west youth.
The Isobel and David Jones Family Foundation also used the South West Community Foundation granting process to identify more than $40,000 of grants to fund in the Warrnambool and Port Fairy areas.
The arts and culture grants included funding to support Koroit Irish Festival and Fun4Kids Festival and other beneficiaries included health services, schools, service groups, community gardens and playgroups.
Groups to recieve $5000 each include Port Fairy Heritage Boats, Warrnambool’s F Project, Koroit and District Preschool Association, Lions Club of Koroit, Moyne Health Services, Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail, Hawkesdale and District PreSchool and Advance Camperdown and Cooinda Terang.
Hampden Specialist School ($1000), The Warrnambool Community Garden ($6500), Colac Otway Shire ($3500) and Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning ($1500) were also successful.
Some of the region’s smaller communities to receive funding included projects in Woolsthorpe ($4661), Cavendish ($2365) and Eurack ($300).
“The objective of a community foundation is to strengthen and enhance life in its own community. It is local people helping themselves; philanthropy on a local basis,” Mr Baker said.
Mr Baker called for continuing community support.
“If anyone out there would like to make a tax-deductible donation to help us, they can do it through our website at www.southwestcommunityfoundation.org
