Improving community life and supporting local organisations through charitable donations is a key focus for the Bank of Melbourne.
Since 2013, the Bank of Melbourne Foundation has donated almost $3 million in grants to more than 100 small charitable organisations who receive little or no government funding.
Every dollar raised by the Foundation goes directly to Victorians who need a helping hand and offers these life-changing services:
– Scholarships for disadvantaged kids through Western Chances and Ardoch Youth Foundation.
– Helping homeless young people get on their feet through HoMie.
– Making sure a new mum can give her baby a safe pram and toys even if she can’t afford to buy them – St Kilda Mums.
– Helping disadvantaged women find work and keep it, through Fitted for Work.
– Providing nutritious meals to people who have fallen on tough times through Fareshare.
Research conducted by Bank of Melbourne in its Victorian Communities report 2018 found that 95 per cent of Victorians believe there’s a way to improve the way of life for those in their community.
Half of those surveyed volunteered their time to support charities or causes, most commonly education and schools (13 per cent).
Proving that Victorians are proud and parochial, the research also found that in the last 12 months, 93 per cent of Victorians surveyed feel proud when their community comes together for a cause.
The Bank of Melbourne’s team actively engages with their local communities to support the events, festivals and causes that are important to locals.
This includes regional executive Brendan Grenfell and local branch managers Elaine Sweeney and her team in Geelong, as well as Steve Vangelovski and his team in Waurn Ponds.
Key local projects recently backed by Bank of Melbourne Foundation funding include Barwon Health’s Kids Appeal and the Kids Plus Foundation.
Bank of Melbourne’s regional team has partnered with Barwon Health across the 2018/19 financial year to support the Kids Appeal, a $3 million campaign to build the first and only Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre outside of metropolitan Melbourne.
Barwon Health Foundation’s acting executive director Zoe Waters says that ‘in addition to the Bank of Melbourne’s generous donation to our Kids Appeal, the team also committed to purchasing a mattress warmer for the Maternity Services Department.
“This vital piece of equipment keeps newborns body temperature stable. They are commonly used for babies born to diabetic mothers to allow them to head home sooner,” she says.
“The Bank of Melbourne donation tally to date is an incredible $7500. These funds go directly toward supporting patient comfort and care within our region and we are beyond thankful.”
Bank of Melbourne has also donated $22,000 to the Kids Plus Foundation to help install a therapy hard court area at its planned centre in Geelong.
Based in Geelong, the Kids Plus Foundation was founded in 2003 by parents of children with special needs, therapists and concerned community members.
Kids Plus Foundation specialises in interventions across the life-span for babies, children and young people with cerebral palsy and similar neurological disorders.
Through physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, music therapy and social work programs and supports, Kids Plus provides family-focused services including assessment, therapy and family support for early treatment and specific intervention strategies to improve abilities across a range of developmental areas.
Chief Executive Shaun Cannon says Kids Plus Foundation’s new centre for Therapy, Research and Training in Geelong will be located at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus.
“Construction is starting late 2018 and the centre is due to open to clients in January 2020.This is an important project funded by the community and the Bank of Melbourne is one our valued donors.
“All are great contributors to what is going to be an important asset.”
In addition to the Bank of Melbourne’s contribution, the $3m centre has been funded by philanthropic grants, local community fundraising efforts and $1.47m from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund. A key philanthropic grant of $750,000 was received from the Anthony Costa Foundation.
Land for the centre has been provided on a no-cost basis by Deakin University under a 20-year lease arrangement with Kids Plus Foundation.
The centre is a purpose-built facility providing therapy programs to 250 children and their families across the Greater Barwon region and beyond.
