Community projects and initiatives that address important social issues in the Hunter have received over $208,000 in funding from the latest round of grants announced by Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation at a funding ceremony held in Newcastle last week on Thursday 23 May 2019.
The Hunter projects include an education program to help support children with incarcerated parents in the Hunter and the ‘Breathe Better 2 project’ to provide critical equipment and access to a suitable fitness program for young people affected by cystic fibrosis.
This round of funding totalled $820,000 for 13 projects with impact across central, western, and northern NSW, and Thursday’s event was the first of two grant ceremonies in 2019.
The grants presented on Thursday brought the total amount donated by the Charitable Foundation to more than $19 million for 460 important initiatives, since its inception in 2003.
The grants will be used to support projects that meet the Charitable Foundation’s mission of helping people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or isolated and supporting social opportunity and development in our regional communities, including over $208,000 which will enable projects in the Hunter.
The projects which will benefit the Hunter community from this round are:
- Waves of Wellness Foundation– $58,000 to help expand its mental health support program.
- CareFlight Limited– $128,000 to go towards a Patient Transport Vehicle to connect patients in regional areas with specialist medical treatment.
- Hunter Medical Research Institute– $75,000 to help undertake critical patient-focused research.
- Cystic Fibrosis Community Care– $74,000 to enable the Breathe Better 2 project to provide critical equipment and access to a suitable fitness program for young people affected by cystic fibrosis.
- Shine for Kids Co-op– $55,000 to expand their RISE Education Program to help support Hunter children with incarcerated parents.
- ThePyjama Foundation – $24,000 to help change the educational future of children in foster care.
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Chair, Phil Neat said the Board when it considered the grant applications were impressed by the quality of projects funded in this funding round.
“Today is all about acknowledging the power these projects have to make a real difference to the lives of people in need and providing our support to help the dedicated volunteers and staff who will make these projects really come to life,” Phil said.
“Each of these grants represents a partnership and shared vision to address important social issues, using some innovative and resourceful projects from non-profit organisations in the Hunter.”
The projects that received funding on Thursday will kick off in the coming months and all projects are scheduled to be completed within two years, allowing the community to start reaping the benefits as soon as possible.
“Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation is proud to have provided more than $19 million in grants since 2003, including over $8.7 million in the Hunter, helping to rewrite the future for disadvantaged, marginalised and isolated people in our community.”
“On behalf of the Charitable Foundation Board, congratulations and thank you to all of the recipients for their hard work and dedication. It is truly inspiring to witness the passion within our community to help others who may be less fortunate,” Phil concluded.
IMAGE | Recipients from the projects that will directly help the Hunter.