2009 Visy Community Grants Program

The Community Foundation for Tumut Region announced this week the opening of the 2009 round of Visy Community Grants for projects of community strengthening and renewal within the Tumut shire.

Community groups and organisations from across the shire have until 21 July to submit applications as part of a community partnership of the Community Foundation, Pratt Foundation, Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Visy Tumut.

Applications for projects benefiting communities of the Tumut shire will be accepted within the categories of:

 * Arts and culture; *Children youth and families; *Community economic development ; *Disadvantaged groups;  *Education; *Environment; *Health and Social development; *Heritage; *Indigenous people

Last year 16 community organisations received grants totalling close to fifty thousand dollars. A similar amount of funding is available this year.

"This is the fourth year of our partnership with the Pratt Foundation and FRRR and we look forward to all towns in the shire benefiting from this program" said Louise Halsey, Chairman of the Community Foundation.

In just three years close to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars have been donated to local community organisations through the Visy Community Grants Programs.

Ms Halsey thanked the Pratt Foundation and FRRR saying “Mr Richard Pratt was a true visionary. He recognised the importance of vibrant and resilient communities as places for Visy employees and their families to live”.

“The Visy Community Grants support community projects thereby strengthening the fabric of the Tumut shire”.

“The Community Foundation is proud to coordinate the grant round. Our coordinator and volunteers enjoy liaising with the community and managing the grants. This allows the Visy staff to concentrate on their business activities as well as providing a level of independence for the selection process”.

“In three years 35 community organisations have undertaken 48 projects with grants ranging from $600 to $13,500. Larger grants may be awarded if the application clearly identifies both a community need and the positive outcomes the project will bring to the community”.

“Close to two thirds of the projects to date directly injected funds into the local community, sourcing goods and services from local suppliers. The projects often leveraged other funding sources, growing the scale of the initial project. This all adds to the local economy as well community development”.

“There are very few communities in regional Australia receiving this form of philanthropic support for building social capital. It’s a hugely significant and generous contribution to making our place a better place to live”, Ms Halsey said. 

Opportunities have been provided for students, seed funding of new social networks and cultural groups, artist in residence workshops, author visits to schools, assistance to museums in three towns and the Montreal Theatre, restoration of the Grahamstown war memorial, a drug and alcohol education program, training of local volunteers, innovative literacy program, family violence awareness program, building self confidence workshops and assistance to early childhood learning facilities are just some of the projects assisted by the Visy Community Grants program since 2006.

"The Community Foundation was established to assist all communities in the shire and we are particularly encouraging community groups in Adelong, Batlow, Talbingo, Tumut plus surrounding localities and villages to consider their dreams and goals, detail their plans and submit a Community Grant application'’, Ms Halsey added.

New applicants are welcome as well as successful and unsuccessful applicants from previous rounds.

"The Community Foundation is governed by volunteers from throughout the shire and as well as the community grants program the Foundation also manages donors’ funds for a variety of Named Programs, including education, leadership, arts and culture, disabilities and assisting families.”

“As a recognised charity with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status the Foundation can provide receipts for donors seeking to give a tax deductible gift”, Ms Halsey concluded.

Applications for the 2009 Visy Community Grants close on Tuesday July 21, with forms for the grants available by logging onto the Foundation website at www.tumutfoundation.org.au or from the Community Foundation office at the HACC Centre, corner of Capper & Wynyard Sts, Tumut, phone Peter Becker on 6947 9233 or email coord@tumutfoundation.org.au.

June 2009

Link to:

2008 Visy Community Grant recipients   2008 Visy Community grant program