GIVING WHERE IT’S NEEDED

THE Give Where You Live Foundation has announced the recipients of grants worth more than $916,000 to support the community’s vulnerable.

Thirty-seven grants are being distributed, bolstering services supporting causes including food relief, homelessness and mental health.

Through the lens of the coronavirus crisis and its effects, the Give Where You Live Foundation has been responsive and adapted to meet the changes, bringing the annual grant round forward by two months.

The grants seek to support the organisations delivering programs and services in relation to its key program areas: education, employment, and life crisis.

Recipients include the Bellarine Living and Learning Centre in Whittington, where $30,000 in funds will help support food security and health education.

Back to Back Theatre; Barwon, Child Youth and Family; Hope Bereavement Care; Ocean Mind; and Samaritan House Geelong were also among the recipients.

Give Where You Live Foundation chief executive Bill Mithen said this year, a total of 57 applications received totalling $1.4 million.

“While this is on par with the number of applications and amount requested in the 2019 community grant round, for true comparison we should take into account the emergency grants allocated in late April, as these organisations would have submitted applications if they had not received an emergency grant,” Mr Mithen said.

“Taking this into account we received 65 applications requesting $1.42 million; a significantly higher number of applications and value than over the same period last year.”

The grants are in addition to more than $600,000 of grants already issued this financial year, meaning the foundation has provided

$1.5 million of support.

Give Where You Live Foundation has advocated that philanthropy should be acting urgently and responsively during a time of crisis.

“The Give Where You Live over

Foundation is a great example of a progressive, dynamic and responsive community foundation,” Philanthropy Australia chief executive Sarah Davies said.

“They truly care about a local, regional response.”

Picture: GLENN FERGUSON HELP GRANTED: Bellarine Living and Learning Centre’s Anita Belousoff (left) and Karen Williams (right) with Give Where You Live’s Jenny Speed and Bill Mithen.