Fifteen community groups in southern Geelong and Torquay received grants totalling $12,000 at the inaugural Ashbury Community Fund presentation on 14 November.
Representatives of Geelong’s business community and council attended the awards at Dennis Family Corporation’s Ashbury Estate.
Dennis Family Group managing director Grant Dennis and Geelong councillor Ron Nelson made the presentations to the not-for-profit groups that successfully applied for funding.
Since establishing its Community Fund initiative in 2002, Dennis Family Corporation has distributed more than $600,000 in grants across various residential estates in Victoria and southeast Queensland.
“The establishment of the Ashbury Community Fund has enabled us to extend the reach of our support into the Armstrong Creek neighbourhood where our Ashbury development is located,” Mr Dennis said.
Eligibility for funding extended to not-for-profit groups in Armstrong Creek, Grovedale, Mt Duneed and Torquay.
“We were very pleased with the quantity and variety of applications we received,” Mr Dennis said.
An independent judging panel allocated $500 and $1000 grants to Grovedale Toy Library, Torquay Surf Life Saving Club’s nipper program, Mt Duneed Pony Club, Neighborhood Watch Armstrong Creek, Connewarre Fire Brigade and other groups.
Mr Dennis said Ashbury would become home to approximately 4000 people over the next decade and that his family had always felt it important to support the areas where its business operates.
“The annual Community Fund concept was introduced within our family business as a practical way of giving back to the communities we create,” he explained.
“Over the years, we’ve provided funding to many different organisations to help make their projects possible.
“It is very satisfying for us to now be able to support so many worthy organisations in the local neighbourhood around Ashbury.”
After a very positive response to its launch this year, the Ashbury Community Fund would become an annual initiative, Mr Dennis said.
“We encourage anyone who missed out on funding this year to make sure they lodge an application in 2019.”
Grovedale Toy Library’s Caroline Salmon was thrilled to accept $1000 in support of its active families program.
“As the Grovedale Toy Library is run completely by member volunteers and funded solely by memberships and fundraising, one of the biggest challenges we have is ensuring we have enough toys to meet the growing demand of the local community,” she said.
“This money means we can now replace many of our older and most popular toys with new ones, and we can’t thank the Dennis Family Corporation enough for helping us make this a reality.”
More details on this year’s presentations and information on the 2019 Ashbury Community Fund can be located on the Ashbury website at ashburyestate.com.au.
