Six charities are sharing in more than $1.1 million in new funding to help improve the life outcomes of families and communities in the Hunter and other parts of NSW thanks to the philanthropy of a Hunter-based business.
The Greater Charitable Foundation, funded from the profits of the Greater Building Society, is funding three new charity partners – Camp Quality, Youth Off The Streets and YWCA NSW – for projects in the Hunter and Northern Rivers regions. Existing partners, Autism Spectrum Australia, Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and Cerebral Palsy Alliance also received a funding boost.
The Foundation is already funding three other partners: the Starlight Children’s Foundation (Captain Starlight visits to regional hospitals in NSW and Gold Coast as well as Wishgranting programs); the Hunter Institute of Mental Health (pilot of new resources and interventions for children with chronic illness and their families); and the KidzWish Foundation (Australian first mobile speech therapy service in the Illawarra).
Greater Charitable Foundation chairman John Kilpatrick said more than 160 applications were received covering a diverse range of projects.
Foundation CEO Anne Long said the funding announcement takes the total amount allocated since the Foundation was established in 2011 to more than $4 million.
New partners funded in 2014
- Camp Quality $73,150 over one year
Funding to support a play therapist at Newcastle’s John Hunter Children’s Hospital to work with children in the paediatric oncology ward who are facing procedures to promote effective coping skills through play, preparation, education and distraction.
- Youth Off The Streets $287,375 over two years
Funding for 12 Hunter Valley Futures programs that provide tailored early-intervention and education for disadvantaged children and young people aged four to 19 years in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri and Maitland.
- YWCA NSW $245,300 over two years
Funding the YWCA’s Community in the Kitchen Program for at-risk young people aged between 15 and 24 in the Northern Rivers region. The program provides employment and training opportunities to help participants reach their educational and social potential.
Additional funding for existing partners in 2014
- Hunter Medical Research Institute $330,000 over three years
Funding for with the globally-significant tenecteplase (TASTE) clinical trials that are targeting improvements in recovery and outcomes for stroke patients.
- Autism Spectrum Australia $96,441 over one year
Additional funding to continue the Early Intervention Readiness Program (EIRP) to help more families throughout the Hunter and beyond to navigate the challenges they face after their child has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Foundation funded the Hunter pilot of this program in 2011.
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) $77,000 over one year
Funds to support the Ignition mentoring program, ‘So What’ Youth Support and Social Group, and a support program for siblings of young Hunter and Central Coast adults living with cerebral palsy or a related disability.
