Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie celebrates its support for children’s charity

THE Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery recently celebrated its part in helping raise $46,500 over the past two years to support national children’s charity, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

These funds will ensure that more children are kept safe from violence and bullying.

The chocolaterie in Bellbrae is one of three started by Ian and Leanne Neeland, who have also established chocolateries in the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula.

The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie held an event last week to present the foundation with a novelty cheque made out of chocolate.

Ms Neeland said she was proud to support the foundation.

“This is the fifth year of our wonderful community partnership.

“We believe nothing is more important than ensuring our young ones are safe.”

The foundation’s chief executive officer, Lesley Podesta, said she was grateful for the ongoing and generous support.

“Community partnerships such as this are vital to our work. The chocolaterie has been a wonderful partner to the foundation since 2015.”

Easter is a time to bring families and the local community together for some fun. To celebrate, more than 20,000 handcrafted chocolate eggs now being prepared by European chocolatiers will be given away at the three chocolateries during the festivities over the Easter holiday weekend to help raise funds for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

“We really love this time of year – it’s a wonderful chance to share our chocolate creations with all ages at our sweet destinations over the Easter weekend and school holidays leading into Easter,” Ms Neeland said.

To be a part of the fun over the Easter holiday weekend, all participants will be asked to make a gold coin donation to the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

Now the leading national not-for-profit organisation working to protect children from the effects of violence and bullying, the foundation has assisted more than 2.5 million children for more than 20 years.