{"id":116448,"date":"2025-06-19T12:50:33","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T02:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/?p=116448"},"modified":"2025-06-20T13:27:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T03:27:42","slug":"philanthropy-that-hits-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/philanthropy-that-hits-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Philanthropy that hits home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>LOCAL philanthropic organisation Geelong Connected Communities (GCC) brought together its key sponsorship partners last week to celebrate another year of impact across the region.<\/p>\n<p>Since its inception in 2014, GCC has supported hundreds of small, volunteer-driven not-for-profit organisations, spanning the arts, sport, health and youth, with its 24\/7 grant program.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116458\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116458\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-116458\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06692-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06692-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06692-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06692-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06692-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06692-2-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06692-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116458\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The event brought together Geelong Connected Communities key sponsorship partners to celebrate another 12 months of impact.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116460\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116460\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-116460\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06657-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06657-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06657-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06657-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06657-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06657-2-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06657-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116460\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Damian Solomon and Kym McIntyre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This grant program, enabled by the contributions of approximately 40 businesses, has so far distributed more than 900 grants, equating to about $2.5 million. GCC is now aiming to deliver 1,000 grants by 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The event was held at Nautica Bar and Kitchen, located on the ground floor of Rydges Hotel in Geelong&#8217;s CBD, and hosted by GCC ambassador and former radio personality Roxie Bennett.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116461\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116461\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-116461\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06669-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06669-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06669-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06669-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06669-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06669-2-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06669-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116461\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Geelong Connected Communities ambassador Roxie Bennett.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116462\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116462\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-116462\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06659-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06659-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06659-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06659-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06659-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06659-2-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06659-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116462\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Fitzgerald and Deb Spence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to supporters last week, GCC chair Paul Gray said the purpose of the organisation is to &#8220;strengthen the Geelong community&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Community is people; it&#8217;s neighbours, it&#8217;s clubs, each with a unique need, with a unique dream,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116464\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116464\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-116464 \" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06660-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06660-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06660-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06660-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06660-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06660-2-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06660-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116464\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GCC chair Paul Gray (right) said the philanthropic organisation is aiming to deliver 1,000 grants by 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116463\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116463\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-116463\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06665-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06665-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06665-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06665-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06665-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06665-2-272x182.jpg 272w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/06\/DSC06665-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116463\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nick and Evelyn Wiese from Tiny Dots Early Intervention.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We want the dollars that we receive to have impact, so to start with almost 90 per cent of our funds raised go to our recipients. This is in itself great bang for buck in an environment where costs of actual delivery of philanthropic support are often very high \u2013 and with that money, together, we&#8217;re making an impact that builds resilience.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Representatives from children&#8217;s charity Tiny Dots Early Intervention and Rosewall Community Centre&#8217;s youth program were also in attendance, each giving a presentation on the impact recent grants from GCC have had on their ability to service the community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LOCAL philanthropic organisation Geelong Connected Communities (GCC) brought together its key sponsorship partners last week to celebrate another year of impact across the region. Since its inception in 2014, GCC has supported hundreds of small, volunteer-driven not-for-profit organisations, spanning the arts, sport, health and youth, with its 24\/7 grant program. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This grant [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/philanthropy-that-hits-home\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":116459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-116448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Philanthropy that hits home - Geelong Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Geelong Connected Communities grants have supported over 900 local projects since 2014, helping grassroots groups in health, sport, arts and youth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/philanthropy-that-hits-home\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Philanthropy that hits home - 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