With $2m to share, benefits flow through community

MORE than $1 million has been delivered to dozens of community organisations under the Give Where You Live foundation’s annual grant program.

The $1.3 million in grants form part of a $2 million community dividend provided to the region over the past 12 months which includes its work in the GROW initiative, capacity building for the community sector and Feed Geelong. Give Where You Live chief executive Bill Mithen said the grants helped create positive social change and address the growing imbalance of equity and equality that exists across the region.

“Unemployment, of course, is just one factor affecting our community. Low education levels, food insecurity, homelessness, addiction and family violence are other priority focus areas of the Give Where You Live Foundation,” Mr Mithen said.

“Our grants are the backbone of the foundation’s support of the local community and we’re thrilled to be able to fund over 60 local programs.”

Good Cycles was one of the biggest winners and will receive $175,000 in grants over three years. The money will be used to help vulnerable young people learn skills essential to finding long-term employment.

Under the Good Cycles program young people are taught practical skills and work in the community bike store at the Centrepoint Arcade store.

Give Where You Live’s grants have helped more than 2000 pre-school children improve their physical, social, emotional and literacy skills before they start school.

More than 2000 local children have also been supported to re-engage with their schooling to increase their chances of completing schooling and achieve employment.

Over its history the foundation has contributed more $55 million to the community.