$1.1m to help charities make a greater impact

Greater Charitable Foundation has announced six charity partners who will share in more than $1.1 million as part of the 2017 funding round.
The funding will support partners from across NSW to develop a range of programs that focus on improving their beneficiaries’ life outcomes Since 2011, the Greater Charitable Foundation has allocated more than $7 million in funding to 25 different community groups across Greater Bank’s areas of operation in NSW and South East Queensland.
From more than 200 applications, the six charity partners selected this year will focus on delivering long term change and support to a cross-section of our community. The funding spans programs focused on at risk youth, parents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, as well as individuals recovering from stroke and cancer.
The Greater Charitable Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Anne Long, said the Foundation supports charities working to improve people’s quality of life.
“Our support resonates with programs focused on research and prevention but also those tackling pervasive health and wellbeing issues through intervention and education,” Long said.
“This year’s grant round has connected us with six charities that will stand alongside our existing partners to assist disadvantaged families as well as strengthen community capacity through increased connectedness and support,” she said.
Beneficiaries of the Greater Charitable Foundation’s 2017 grant program include:
Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) – received funding for their world renowned Stroke Research Team, with $336,000 over three years going to support a Phase 3 clinical trial of ‘Modafinil therapy’ in stroke survivors to assist in alleviating post-stroke fatigue and improving post-stroke quality of life.
Tantrum Youth Arts – $100,000 in funding to support Tantrum’s Opening Doors interactive performance and workshop program for young people aged 15- 18 years throughout New South Wales. This program aims to educate and empower young people with increased knowledge around the causes and impacts of domestic family violence and the avenues of support available to them if they are experiencing these issues.
Clontarf Foundation – $100,000 supporting their school re-engagement program for at-risk, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander male students who would otherwise not attend or have very low school attendance in various centres of regional NSW including: Orange, Singleton, Port Macquarie, Taree and Dubbo.
University of Newcastle – $350,000 in funding over three years to support the world’s first father-focused obesity prevention program for preschool-aged children, providing fathers with the knowledge, parenting skills and motivation to improve their health and become healthy role models for their young children.
Cancer Council NSW – $97,050 in funding to support a Hunter/Central Coastbased Financial Counsellor for people affected by cancer experiencing financial hardship. This program aims to alleviate the financial stress of cancer on patients and their families by connecting them with a qualified Financial Counsellor who can provide free support, information and advocacy to reduce their financial burden.
CanTeen – $154,926 in funding over 18 months to support their new Family Support Project; a program to improve the wellbeing of families when a parent has cancer, through an in-hospital social worker, a research study and the development of an information guide.