MUSIC TO THE EARS OF FOUNDATION

CONGRATULATIONS TO GRANT RECIPIENT THE GRT FOUNDATION

KIDS with disability know what it’s like to go through life dancing to the beat of their own drum and now their lives are even brighter thanks to the gift of music therapy.

GRT Foundation director Jane Standen’s 15-year-old daughter Jessica has CDKL5 – a disorder which means she has regular seizures, can’t speak and uses a wheelchair.

Jessica and her friends are delighted to learn they will have more sessions with music therapist Karen Richmond after receiving a Westpac Foundation Community Grant of $10,000.

The Benowa family started the GRT Foundation after Jessica was born in 2002 and now help families of children with disability all over the Gold Coast and Brisbane with everything from counselling to loaning specialist equipment.

The music therapy sessions are held in a special sensory room at Movement Solutions at Parkwood Village which the GRT Foundation has been tirelessly fundraising to kit out with lights and technology.

They hope to raise enough money soon to add a fibre acoustic waterbed which lights up, vibrates and changes temperature.

“For us to receive that money is incredible,” Ms

Standen said.

“We would never have been able to host so many music therapy sessions and help so many families without it.

“We are grateful to Westpac to be able to provide this beautiful, engaging therapeutic service.”

Other Gold Coast nonprofit organisations to receive $10,000 grants include Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth, HeartKids Gold Coast, domestic violence charity My Friend’s Place and Surfers Paradise Anglican Crisis Care.

Westpac regional general manager for the Gold Coast Ann Brabyn said the grants were given to organisations which worked to address social and economic disadvantage in the community.

“Westpac Foundation was one of the first philanthropic organisations in Australia to develop a grant program specifically to support social enterprises,” she said.

“We are proud to continue that work and double the amount of funding in our 200th year in business.”