Media Release
15 November 2016
Three unsung South Australian organisations with a passion for helping local children grow and develop have been chosen by BankSA Foundation to share in $80,000 of funding.
In its recent round of grants, BankSA Foundation, which this year marks its 75th anniversary of charitable and community support and is entirely funded by staff donations, has announced funding for:
- Mid Murray Support Service - $45,673 to fully fund a new ‘Learning Express’ mobile toy library to enable parents in the state’s Mid Murray region (including Mannum, Cambrai, Walker Flat and Purnong) to borrow educational toys and resources for pre-school children.
- Time for Kids - $29,400 to fund a year-long ‘Give a Kid a Break’ school holiday program for 100 disadvantaged children. The program includes camps, workshops and other events to increase the connectedness of children who are socially isolated or who are from economically marginalised families.
- Living Without Limits - $5,000 to help fund a bus for Aspect Treetop School at Ashford, which provides a unique program of autistic-specific therapy to students alongside its standard school curriculum.
BankSA Chief Executive Nick Reade said it is extremely satisfying to be able to provide assistance to local South Australian organisations in desperate need of financial support.
“Through BankSA Foundation, we’re making a genuine difference to the lives of thousands of South Australians via the charitable organisations that support them,” Mr Reade said.
“For example, children and parents throughout the Mid Murray will now benefit from the new Learning Express mobile toy library proposed by the Mid Murray Support Service in partnership with Mannum Kindergarten. We’re thrilled to be able to fully fund the Learning Express project, which will promote and provide essential development in early childhood learning in remote areas of the state.”
Marking its 75th anniversary this year, BankSA Foundation has built up a proud history of charitable and community support since 1941 when bank staff first agreed to donate part of their wages to send comfort parcels to colleagues serving in the armed forces.
“Over the past 75 years, BankSA Foundation has donated more than $8 million to local organisations, which is a testament to the generosity of BankSA employees who continue to raise or donate the funds generated for grant purposes,” Mr Reade said.
Established in 1941, BankSA Foundation invites applications from charities and not-for-profit community groups located in South Australia and Northern Territory, with annual gross revenue of less than $3 million, and receiving less than 40 per cent of its income from recurrent state or federal funding.
Further eligibility criteria and information on applying can be made online at www.banksa.com.au/foundation