Villawood gives back to community groups

SEVERAL community groups across Geelong have been supported in the latest round of funding from Villawood Properties’ philanthropic arm.Villawood Foundation ambassador and radio and TV journalist Jacqui Felgate hosted the event, held at Club Armstrong in Villawood’s Armstrong Mount Duneed estate on Wednesday last week.

The foundation assists groups and individuals, many of which might not otherwise attract corporate assistance.

It provides more than $3.4 million annually to community causes across the developer’s estates across Australia, which include Armstrong Mount Duneed in Armstrong Creek and Coridale in Lara.

Recipients in the Geelong region include:

• Grovedale Toy Library
• Lara Little Athletics
• Mirripoa Primary School
• Freshwater Creek Fire Brigade
• Geelong Dance Movement
• Greater Geelong Nepalese Community Group
• Westcoast Calisthenics Club Masters Team
• Armstrong Creek Boomerang Bags
• Geelong Baptist College
• Little Teapot Café & Play
• North Geelong Warriors Football Club
• Lara Lake Community Preschool
• Geelong Little Athletics, and
• Lara Senior Girl Guides.

Attendees at last week event heard from Villawood Foundation recipient Geelong Youth Engagement and participants in its Geelong Kokoda Youth Program, which runs over the course of the year and culminates in up to 24 young people from Geelong walking the entire 96km of the famous Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.

Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe joined the 2023 Geelong Kokoda Youth Program members on their trek along the Kokoda Track earlier this year.

He said the foundation’s assistance, through sponsorship and community grants, was an important way of giving back to Geelong.

“We were able to see some of Geelong’s great talent and efforts in action, showing just how rich the local community is,” Mr Costelloe said.

“Our foundation grants are about helping grow Geelong’s bank of community goodwill and care.

“They’re part of an ongoing program through our Villawood Foundation, which helps local groups big and small to grow their membership and activities.”

Villawood Properties also offers a “Champion Bonus” to the members of the community groups it sponsors, with a $10,000 rebate on land and a $5,000 saving on its VillaRange homes.

Ms Felgate said the showcase at Club Armstrong was a celebratory affair for Geelong, one that might not have been possible without the foundation.

“The idea of giving back is a simple but powerful way of helping the community and its people achieve their very best.

“The Villawood Foundation helps some big community causes but it’s also very much about driving grassroots efforts and excellence.

“Places like Geelong have a wealth of talent and goodwill that often just needs that bit extra to realise its full potential.”

For more information on the Villawood Foundation, head to villawoodproperties.com.au/the-villawood-foundation