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Sunshine Coast’s Gen One Men’s housing project officially opens in Nambour

The Shack in Nambour is officially opening the only men’s housing project on the Sunshine Coast, with the help of $500,000 in federal funding secured by Member for Fairfax, Ted O’Brien.

Designed to integrate homeless men into the community, Gen One includes a community hub for its residents as well as six fully self-contained units, six for residents including one with disability access, as well as a unit for an onsite manager.

The Shack Pastor Dale Dowler said the project would make a huge difference in the lives of the men who would pass through the new facility.

Member for Fairfax, Ted O’Brien said he was delighted to officially open the facility, with the $500,000 funding provided by the Federal Government, delivering on a 2019 election commitment.

“When Dale approached me in 2019 with plans to build a shelter to house homeless men, the first of its kind between Brisbane and Maryborough, I went to work determined to make it happen,” Mr O’Brien said.

BWMCA's Teale Ring (left) with Buderim Foundation's Charilie Morris and Buderim Lions' Brian McBride (right) present cheque for vouchers to Mountain Creek chaplains Stuart Cran & Anthony Pulford

Buderim Foundation provides support to local families for school expenses

The Buderim Foundation is supporting local families with school expenses through the provision of $30,000 worth of $50 vouchers, to be distributed through schools and community organisations.

BWMCA’s Teale Ring (left) with Buderim Foundation’s Charlie Morris and Buderim Lions’ Brian McBride (right) present a cheque for vouchers to Mountain Creek chaplains Stuart Cran (MCSHS) & Anthony Pulford (MCSS) – photo by Cheryl Nomnus.

The 600 vouchers will be distributed through Buderim Mountain State School, Chancellor State College, Mountain Creek State Primary School, Mountain Creek State High School, Kuluin State School and SunnyKids, as part of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) Back to School Program.

Buderim Foundation Director Rebecca Ramsay said this year is the 18th year Buderim Foundation together with the FRRR had provided the much-needed assistance for school expenses such as clothing, shoes, and stationery.

Mrs Ramsay said this year the funds included an allocation from the FRRR of $20,000, as well as a further $5000 from the FRRR Matched Funding program which was matched to funds contributed by the BWMCA ($1000), Buderim Lions ($1500), and the Buderim Foundation’s Thompson Fund ($2500).

Sunshine Mitre 10 & Gympie Junior Rugby League

Sunshine Mitre 10 offers support to Gympie community groups as they clean up flood damage

Sunshine Mitre 10, like many other local businesses, is doing what it can to assist Gympie to recover from the devastating flood damage experienced over the past week, donating $20,000 worth of materials to assist.

Sunshine Mitre 10 Gympie’s Dean Chandler (left) and Steve Miatt (right) and Gympie Junior Rugby League President Andrew Noy inspecting the damage after their clubhouse. Already volunteers have gutted the interior ready to rebuild.

Sunshine Mitre 10 General Manager Neil Hutchins said $2,000 accounts have been established for 10 local community organisations which were heavily affected by flooding, so they could get the supplies they needed most.

“This flood event has affected so many in the community that as locals we wanted to do something to help,” Mr Hutchins said.

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 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!

 

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.

Buderim FondationNorm and Ellen de Chastel

Buderim couple set a splendid example of giving back to the community

While everyone has been dealing with a world that seems to have been turned upside down, something quite special has happened in our community that is sure to gladden the hearts of many.

Long term Buderim residents Norm and Ellen deChastel who last year celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary have quietly made a donation of $100,000 to the Buderim Foundation, adding significantly to its funds held in trust and therefore its capacity to build a stronger community through its annual grant allocations.

Buderim Fondation Norm and Ellen de Chastel

In announcing this outstanding philanthropic gesture, Foundation Chair Prof. Russell Stitz said “For 13 years, the deChastels have been in what we would class the major annual donor category, but this latest contribution to the Buderim Foundation catapults them into the exceptional category. In previous years, they have asked for their donations to remain anonymous, but this year they have been prepared to relax this requirement in the hope that it may inspire others to follow.

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