BWMCA Buderim Community Carols - photo by Reflected Image PR RPR09621

The harmony of Christmas Carols to return to Buderim

The Buderim Village Park will once again come alive with festive spirit, with the community coming together for Buderim Community Carols on Sunday, 12th December.

Organisers are even more excited than ever to be preparing for Carols this year, after COVID-19 caused their cancellation in 2020.

With pre-show entertainment from 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start, Rosanna Natoli from 7NEWS Sunshine Coast will return as MC along with a special appearance by Santa Claus, locals and visitors alike are invited to join in on the popular annual event, hosted by the BWMCA and Bendigo Community Bank Buderim.

Buderim Foundation

Buderim Foundation awards more than $70,000 in Community Grants

The Buderim Foundation is today awarding $70,391 to be shared by 14 community-based organisations, as part of its annual Community Grants Celebration.

Buderim Foundation 2021 Community Grant Recipients

Buderim Foundation Grants Committee Chair, Rebecca Ramsay said the Foundation was delighted to once again provide support to community organisations supporting the 4556 postcode area, especially as the challenges of Covid-19 continue.

“The grants come from earnings made from the Foundation’s investment fund, so it is thanks to everyone’s donations and the hard work of our Investment Committee, that we are able to deliver the much-needed funding,” Rebecca said.

Sunshine Coast organisations receive inaugural Thompson Fund Grants to support people in need

Four organisations providing support to people experiencing homelessness and financial distress due to domestic violence and other circumstance on the Sunshine Coast, have received grants totalling $110,000 from the Buderim Foundation Thompson Fund.

Hinternoosa Realestate

Youturn Youth Support received funds to fit out two Tiny Houses which will provide affordable living for vulnerable young people, and support for driver’s license costs for four young people.

SunnyKids Sunshine Coast received a grant to provide assistance to 100 individuals at risk of homelessness due to domestic violence and economic instability.

Ozharvest received money to purchase over 16 tonnes of food to support 20 recipient agencies that provide essential meals for people in need.

Lily House received a grant to provide funding for emergency living and school needs and food support for women and their children in crisis.

These grants are the first to be distributed from the newly established Buderim Foundation Thompson Fund which is the result of a large multi-million-dollar donation by Sunshine Coast residents Roy and Nola Thompson.

Buderim Foundation 2020 Grant recipents

Grants of up to $10,000 available to local community organisations thanks to Buderim Foundation

Buderim Foundation will soon be opening their 2021 Grants Programs for applications, with up to $10,000 each available to community organisations serving the local 4556 community.

Buderim Foundation
2020 Grant recipients celebrate, with COVID safe social distancing. Photo by Ross Eason

Applications open on Monday 7th June, and eligible applicants will need to apply online before 11thJuly. Successful applicants will be announced at the Foundation’s 2021 annual community grants celebration on Sunday 12th September.

This year grants can be used for projects, or organisational operational costs, that directly benefit residents within the 4556 postcode area.

The Buderim Foundations Grant application program attracted a lot of interest last year, and $85,022 in grants was awarded to 20 local organisations, taking the total amount distributed over 13 years to almost $629,000.

Buderim Foundation chair Dr Russell Stitz with Nola and Roy Thompson - photo by Ross Eason -024 2

$5 million Thompson Trust entrusted to the Buderim Foundation

The Buderim Foundation, together with philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson, are pleased to announce that the Buderim Foundation has become the Trustee for the Roy and Nola Thompson Charitable Trust, which will support people in need throughout the Sunshine Coast region.

The Buderim Foundation Thompson Fund will provide grants to support those experiencing financial distress in the Sunshine Coast community.  Organisations and groups that provide services for those unable to achieve a modest standard of living, due to challenges of homelessness or domestic violence, are invited to assess their eligibility for the 2021 grants program from 1st May 2021.

Buderim Foundation Chair Dr Russell Stitz said the Buderim Foundation already has a community investment fund of more than $2 million which is used to support the people who live in the 4556 postcode area.  Grants are also provided to not-for-profit organisations outside this postcode area, provided there is a benefit to those who live in this local community.  Since its inception in 2004, grants to the value of almost $637,000 have been distributed to 83 local community groups.

Buderim Foundation back to school voucher presentation 1

Buderim Foundation lends record level of support to local families for school expenses

The Buderim Foundation is providing $32,000 worth of $50 vouchers to support local families who need assistance with school expenses like clothing, shoes and stationery.

As part of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) Back to School Program 2021, this year’s record amount will help up to 640 students attending Buderim Mountain State School, Chancellor State Primary and State College, Kuluin State School, Mountain Creek State Primary and High School or receiving assistance from Sunny Kids.

Buderim Foundation Director Rebecca Ramsay said this year the funds included an allocation from the FRRR of $20,000 to the Buderim Foundation. Further donations of $1,500 from Buderim Lions Club, $1,000 each from Buderim Rotary Club and the BWMCA and $2,500 from the Buderim Foundation were then matched dollar-for-dollar by the FRRR, totalling $12,000.

“This is the 17th year Buderim Foundation together with our local supporters have been involved in the FRRR Back to School Program and we are very grateful for the generous financial support of everyone involved,” Rebecca said.

Buderim Foundation Alistair and Santin Cook

Love of community burns bright through the years

Within the Buderim Foundation’s growing family of donors, Ambassadors and volunteers, there are literally countless stories of generous giving, whether it be time, talent or treasure… or in many cases, a combination of all three. Since the Foundation’s launch in 2004, it is these many individual stories that collectively add up to an immensely powerful big story of success we can all be proud of.

One of these is a standout and deserves celebrating. Well known in the community as the face of Buderim Pharmacy, Alistair and Santina Cook, along with their pharmacy partners at the time, made a bold decision to get behind the Buderim Foundation as inaugural sponsors when it was in its infancy 15 years ago. Alistair and Santina have been committed supporters ever since. Indeed, the cumulative contribution through the years puts them in a very special gold standard category!

 

BMSS year 5 and 6 students watching the Drop Zone Road Safety video

Buderim school students lead community road safety initiative

With over 1000 students travelling to and from Buderim Mountain State School each school day road safety is important so the BMSS P&C has commissioned the production of a series of road safety videos, where the students became the teachers.

BMSS Principal Neil Jenkins said the school has been at its present location since 1887 and particularly in recent years, the community had grown significantly.

Mr Jenkins said with the assistance of a grant from the Queensland Government’s Community Road Safety Grants Scheme, the P&C wanted to provide information to parents as well as the wider Buderim community about how to ensure the safety of students.

Buderim Community Christmas Carols - Mountain Creek State High School performing for the crowd - photo by Ross Eason - EAS-12-19-BWMCA-0104

Buderim Community Christmas Carols to be postponed this year

It is with reluctance that a decision has been made to postpone the Buderim Community Carols for 2020.

“While we will miss the community gathering in Buderim Village Park that for many signals the start of the festive season, we are unable to proceed this year,” BWMCA Carols sub-committee chair Andrew Butterworth said.

The 2019 Buderim Community Carols event

“The committee has been working hard behind the scenes to investigate options so the event could still go ahead without compromising the community atmosphere but ensuring community safety and compliance with COVID Safe Event Plan guidelines. Unfortunately, it isn’t possible,” Mr Butterworth said.

Buderim Foundation 2020 Grant recipents

Buderim Foundation biggest ever Community Grants Celebration

The Buderim Foundation is today awarding a record amount of $85,022 to be shared by 20 community-based organisations, as part of its biggest-ever Community Grants Celebration.

Buderim Foundation Grants Committee Chair, Rebecca Ramsay said the Foundation was delighted to once again provide a record level of grants to community organisations supporting the 4556 postcode area, especially in this very challenging year.

Buderim Foundation 2020 Grant recipients celebrate, with COVID safe social distancing. Photo by Ross Eason

“The grants come from earnings made from the Foundation’s investment fund, so it is thanks to everyone’s donations and the hard work of our Investment Committee, that we are able to deliver the much-needed funding,” Rebecca said.

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