Help for Tweed youth
Sports greats behind launch of new charity
STAR boxer Jeff Horn says a Tweed homeless foundation he is helping launch today is something he wishes was around when he was young.
Horn is joining Coolangatta world champion surfer Joel Parkinson and Olympic cyclists Robbie McEwen and Stuart O’Grady to launch Sleep Safe Sleep Sweet (SSSS) at a lunch.
Kingscliff-based Goldsky hedge fund directors and couple Janey and Ken Grace have brought the sports stars together for SSSS, which they are kickstarting with a $100,000 donation.
Horn, who has started training for an anticipated rematch with Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, has spoken previously about bullying as a youngster prompting him to start boxing.
“I’m helping launch the foundation and it’s something I’m very keen to do.
“When I was young I was in trouble and I wished I had a foundation like this to reach out to and get some help.”
The Graces want to tackle a “disgraceful” lack of facilities for homeless Tweed youth with generous ongoing donations of 25 per cent of annual client fees.
They hope the sports star foursome will be ongoing ambassadors and meet the kids they shelter to provide support and inspiration.
The Graces, whose hedge fund is over $100 million and growing, started planning SSSS five years ago.
Mrs Grace said she approached her husband about it, saying she’d need a million dollars: “He still has a year to go”.
She said the Tweed had the lowest number of supported accommodation options for homeless youth in NSW.
“Just four beds are available to meet the needs of over 300 homeless young people and accompanying children. That is a disgrace.”
She is on the hunt for land and says on top of Goldsky fee contributions they’ll hold several annual fundraisers.