Community projects including emergency response, disability surfing, youth development and theatre are to share in more than $110,000 from the Buderim Foundation’s 2024 Community Grants Program.
The Buderim Foundation 2024 Community Grant recipients. Photo by Cheryl Nonmus.
The successful recipients will be announced at a special Grants Celebration to be held on Sunday, 15th September at the Buderim War Memorial Hall. The Grants Celebration is one of the most important days on the Foundation’s calendar.
Buderim Foundation Chair Rod McKinnon said the Foundation was pleased to be assisting 22 different community organisations supporting the people in the wider Buderim area in this year’s program.
Mr McKinnon said the grants were at the heart of what the local Community Foundation provided, with the grants coming from the earnings made from the Foundation’s investment funds.
“The Buderim Foundation was established to provide support for the community for generations to come and this year’s Grants Program is the 17th since the Foundation was established, with $110,264 to be awarded this year,” Mr McKinnon said.
Grants are awarded to projects relating to eight areas of interest including those which seek to strengthen the fabric of the community, help residents live healthy and fulfilling lives and protect and preserve our natural environment.
“Since the first grants were provided in 2008, a total of $940,031 has been distributed to 105 community organisations supporting the wider Buderim community,” Mr McKinnon said.”
“These grants will make a big difference to the lives of many in our community, enabling the purchase of much-needed and, in some cases, life-saving equipment; and financing vital infrastructure, supporting a wide range of people in our community”.
See full list of Buderim Foundation Community Grant recipients at the bottom of this article.
The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation that aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives in the Buderim and Sunshine Coast areas by harnessing the power of giving.
The Foundation works by professionally investing all donations and bequests. The earnings from these investments are redistributed to the community via an annual grants program open to not-for-profit community organisations that provide a service and support to residents in the Buderim area now and for generations to come.
The Community Grants announced today are in addition to grants from the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund, established by philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson, which since April 2021 has provided over $906,000 to support people experiencing homelessness and financial distress across the whole Sunshine Coast.
FULL LIST OF 2024 BUDERIM FOUNDATION COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS: (in alphabetical order)
- AEIOU Foundation – $9,480 for the provision of outdoor learning and play equipment for children with autism.
- Bloomhill Cancer Care – $1,854 for a custom information and brochure display.
- Buderim Historical Society – $1,975 for a defibrillator machine for community safety.
- Buderim Men’s Shed – $5,838 for Men’s Shed security upgrade.
- Buderim Theatre Company Incorporated (BATS) – $1,658 towards the purchase of a sewing machine and overlocker.
- Buderim Wanderers Football Club – $5,000 towards a motorised utility cart.
- BWMCA – $10,000 for a laser projector for the Buderim War Memorial Hall.
- Cittamani Hospice Service – $9,128 to replace technology used by their support nurses.
- Disabled Surfing Australia (SC Branch) – $7,071 for shade marquees for disabled surfers.
- Fusion Community Centre – $3,750 for a replacement printer/copier.
- LifeFlight Foundation – $6,036 for new safety equipment to support rescue helicopter crew.
- Lions Club of Buderim Inc – $1,233 for equipment for the Lions Den
- Magnolia Health – $3,000 towards operational costs for the Buderim Walk for Endo (Endometriosis).
- Maroochydore SES Support Association – $1,823 towards equipment for their Storm Damage Response Vehicle.
- Rotary Club of Buderim – $1,573 for a new cover for their barbecue trailer.
- RSL Care RDNS trading as Bolton Clarke – $10,000 for a Goodness Garden.
- Suncoast Gem & Fossicking Club – $3,553 for a Cabochon grinding and polishing machine.
- SLSQ Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter – $10,000 towards the upgrade of safety equipment to support patients & rescue crew.
- Sunshine Coast Concert Brand – $3,637 towards a keyboard, Amp & accessories.
- Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Inc – $3,500 for a new motor for their dinghy.
- We Help Ourselves – $3,070 for new computers for Rehabilitation Program graduates.
- Wishlist Sunshine Coast Health Foundation – $7,085 for the Let’s Get Moving! Program.
For more information on the Buderim Foundation, please visit the website at www.buderimfoundation.org.au.
