2008 Beneficiaries
The Australian Children’s Music Foundation: $54,780.00
The Australian Children’s Music Foundation believe in using the power of music to inspire and enrich the lives of all Australian children and youth, particularly the disadvantaged and indigenous. Through music, children can find a way to express their emotions and channel their energy and abilities into something positive and creative. We are funding 2 programs- One which will enable 2 qualified music teachers to spend 3 hours, 1 day per week with students and the second program which will provide tuition and instruments to children in Cape York and the Northern Territory.
Autism Awareness: $60,000.00
Autism Awareness has been established to develop public awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders and build a base to lobby Government for an increase in funding and access to autism –specific services. These include scientifically proven treatments for early intervention and education, services to adolescents and adults with autism, and funding of research.
Batting for Battens Foundation: $15,000.00
Batting for Battens Foundation are a Queensland-based foundation whose primary aim is to raise awareness and funds to help families affected by Batten disease. Our funding enabled a family who have 2 children living with Battens disease (one of which who is already blind), to have their bathroom fully renovated because it had been badly damaged by white ants leaving major structural damage. The shower in the bathroom no longer functioned and the family therefore only had a bath in which to operate from. Their bathroom renovation has helped enormously to alleviate the stresses involved with bathing their 2 children.
Breakaway: $29,019.00
Camp Breakaway is a non-profit, charitable organisation committed to enhancing the lives of all people with disabilities, at the same time allowing relief for the families and carers. Our funding is going to be used to fund a weekend away for babies and children with high medical needs and rare disorders, some of whom are terminally ill and also for financially disadvantaged families.
Bridgewater Police & Community Youth Club: $4,500.00
The Bridgewater Police and Community Youth Club help provide sport and recreation, social services and support to the ‘At Risk’ children, youth and adults of Bridgewater, Gagebrook and surrounding areas as a means of promoting positive change for individuals, families and the community in general. Our funding will enable the Bridgewater Police to put holiday programs in place for ‘At Risk’ children aged 5-12, as well as the provision of free places for ‘At Risk’ children referred to the programs by various agencies.
Children First Foundation: $50,000.00
The Children First Foundation seeks to help those primarily under fifteen years of age that have operable conditions but are ineligible for assistance from larger aid organisation’s due to their country of origin, remoteness or the severity of their illness. Our funding will assist in bringing ten children to Australia from Developing countries for surgery and rehabilitation as well as providing them with all necessities and services.
Country Hope Trust: $45,000.00
Country Hope Trust provides family centered support programs to country children diagnosed with cancer and similar illnesses. Country Hope is dedicated to developing support programs and services, in response to the needs of country families, advice from medical practitioners and other professionals. Our funding will help develop support programs and services to reduce the stresses that surround a family with a child diagnosed with cancer, by extending a caring hand of assistance.
Heartwell Foundation: $40,000.00
The Heartwell Foundation works with hundreds of children helping to improve their health & fitness, motor skills, body image and confidence. This is a sensational physical training program for children with terrible cancers, tumors, victims of accidents and it allows them to; take a step, throw a ball, swim a stroke, learn to hop – every physical activity or action that we all take for granted. Our funding will sponsor 8 children for 2008 to participate in the programs.
Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund: $10,000.00
The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund works to improve the quality of life through the development of community philanthropy in Melbourne. Rather than just simply rescuing people from their problems, they aim to empower people with the support, skills and self-confidence to embrace life and take their place in the community. Our funding will enable the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund to put in place a ‘Give it a go’ program, which will provide primary school aged children from the greater Melbourne areas, the opportunity to become physically active, health conscience and socially included in the community. The project will specifically target children who are, through their family circumstances, struggling and at a disadvantage to other children their age and give these children an opportunity to experience ‘normal’ relationships with adults and other children.
St Vincent De Paul Society- Murphy Family Appeal: $20,000.00
Late last year on 22 December 2007, there was a terrible fire at the Murphy family’s home in Sunbury that tragically claimed the lives of 2 young boys; Connor 5 and Logan 2. Not only did the Murphy family loose 2 beautiful children, they also lost their possessions in the fire. Our funding went towards helping the Murphy family rebuild their lives.
Northern School for Autism: $84,000.00
The Northern School for Autism is a state government specialist school addressing the educational needs of primary aged students with autism. It serves the Northern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. Our funding has enabled the school to purchase 2 buses, 1 for each campus so that the students can access community programs and events.
Duchenne Foundation: $40,840.00
The Duchenne Foundation work together to improve the lives of Australian persons and families affected by dystrophinopathies – Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy.The Duchenne Foundation draws on national and international collaboration, to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for persons affected by Duchenne and the milder form, Becker; through research, education and advocacy. Our funding will supply 5 district cough assist machines to prevent or cure pneumonia, thus lengthening the lives of our youths in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Riding Develops Abilities: $10,000.00
Riding Develops Abilities is a voluntary community service catering for disabled children by providing a high quality therapeutic riding (horses) instruction with emphasis on fun and passive learning. Our funding will be put towards the cost of fodder, repairs & maintenance to equipment and centre facilities, as well as taking care of vet fees for 12 horses.
Red Dust Role Models: $22,000.00
Red Dust Role Models strives to improve the lives of Australia’s most disadvantaged children, by using their positive role models to deliver health messages and inspire healthy lifestyle decisions among remote, indigenous youth. Our funding will enable Red Dust to complete the superstructure roof of a basketball court in Areyonga.
ROMAC: $30,000.00
Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) work to provide medical treatment for children from developing countries in the form of life saving and/or dignity restoring surgery. Our funding will help bring children to Australia to have these operations.
Sunbury Community Health Centre Inc.: $8,628.00
The Sunbury Community Health Centre is the only public health agency in the area and therefore holds a position of respect, responsibility and accountability in delivering Department of Human Services programs. Our funding will be put towards their ‘KickOn’ swimming program, which will help cater for the needs of children with autism and other intellectual and sensory disabilities and enabling children with autism to experience the therapeutic, social and physical benefits of swimming and water activities.
Waverley Emergency Adolescent Care- Tandana House: $50,640.00
Waverley Emergency Adolescent Care (WEAC) aims to prevent total family breakdown by providing an opportunity for ‘time-out’ accommodation, together with preventative or additional services such as meditation, family therapy and specialist counseling. Our funding will go towards providing 3 youths the opportunity to participate in a 16 week program at the Tandana place for youth specific drug and alcohol rehabilitation house.
The Humour Foundation: $60,060.00
The Humour Foundation’s core project is Clown Doctors, touching the lives of over 85,000 people every year. The focus is Children’s Hospitals and Clown Doctors are now part of hospital life in all major children’s hospitals around Australia. Our funding will enable Clown Doctors to keep their programs running at no cost to the hospitals and at the same time, bringing smiles to the children’s faces who so desperately need it.
Western Chances: $25,000.00
Western Chances assists young people in the western suburbs to realise their potential through the provision of scholarships and other related programs. Our funding will help increase the amount of scholarships given to young people.
Cyrenian House: $15,000.00
Cyrenian House is one of the leading alcohol and/or other drug treatment services in Western Australia and with our funding; Cyrenian House will be able to better ensure the physical safety and emotional well-being of children, by providing core models of service to families, in order to prevent children from having to be removed from their mother’s care. The primary aim is ‘family prevention’ – prevention for children at high risk or immediate risk of placement in out of home care.
