Big win for Tiny Dots

THE Geelong Community Foundation held its annual P500 Pitch & Vote Night on Friday last week, where Tiny Dots beat two other shortlisted community organisations vying for a $79,000 community wellbeing grant.

Geelong Community Foundation chief executive officer Gail Rodgers said it was an exciting night for everyone involved.

“Tiny Dots’ win was by the smallest of margin, as was the difference between the runners-up. We are so lucky to have these three organisations helping those in need in our region.”

Tiny Dots Early Intervention provides accessible assessment, referral and short-term intervention for Geelong babies and toddlers who are on long waiting lists for allied health services and/or have developmental delays that are more subtle.

“The Foundation has watched Tiny Dots develop over the last five years and the passion for the work they do is so obvious, changing the way parents engage and support their babies with developmental delay,” Ms Rodgers said.

“Tiny Dots identified a gap in the system and have worked hard to ensure our most vulnerable get the right support, advice and therapy in those first few months of their lives.”

The event was the culmination of the campaign that attracted 279 donors, who each contributed $500 towards the grant, and these donors ultimately voted to award the funds to Tiny Dots Early Intervention.

Cherished Pets community veterinary care and Making Waves Foundation were also shortlisted.

“Donors understood that they were about to give away $79,000 and not a single person was taking that difficult task for granted,” Ms Rodgers said.

“All three pitch presentations were extremely well delivered and diverse in the way in which they support our community.”

Applicants for the grant must deliver a community wellbeing project within the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast Shire, or the southern part of the Golden Plains Shire.

Past winners have included Wombat’s Wish, Geelong Youth Engagement and Feed Me Bellarine, with affected areas including child bereavement, mental health, disadvantage, school disengagement and food security.

In 2024 the group aims to attract 300 donors, which will push the grant to more than $90,000.