Geelong Community Foundation delivers $1 million

THE GEELONG Community Foundation celebrated its biggest funding figure the Wednesday before last, granting a combined total of $1,014,000 to 57 community organisations across the greater Geelong region.

Surf Coast initiatives including Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) and Jan Juc SLSC were among the grant recipients, with both SLSC’s receiving $5,000 respectively.

Another major winner from the 2019-20 grant allocations was Lorne Community Arts and Culture Foundation, which was gifted $14,000 through the program.

The foundation’s chief executive officer Gail Rodgers met with representatives from each of the organisations last Wednesday at Anglesea SLSC and said she was extremely proud of the milestone.

“We have given over 50 grants across the Geelong region this year, totalling over a million dollars for the first time ever, which is such a rewarding milestone thanks to our generous donors,” she said.

“The most incredible thing is when you look at the list of grant recipients, you see the diversity of organisations supporting our community. Most of the organisations have started here, are run here and doing amazing work here. We are very excited about granting one million dollars to make a significant difference in our community.”

The milestone was marked with a commemorative $1 million note featuring the face of the foundation’s inaugural chairman, Geoff Neilson AM.

Ms Rodgers said the recipients were chosen over a three-month period during which applications were critically assessed. She also encouraged more Surf Coast organisations to apply for a grant in time for next year’s allocation period.

Other Surf Coast recipients included Torquay Museum Without Walls ($2,350) and Winchelsea Community House ($1,000).

For more information or to contribute to the GCF, visit geelongfoundation.org.