Supporting the people that support us has provided the foundations for Greater Bank’s #GreaterNewEngland Community Funding program, which reaches a significant milestone of giving this July.
In July, we’re celebrating $350,000 in community funding for the region that has supported 210 community groups across Tamworth, Gunnedah and Armidale.
To say that we are proud of this support would be an understatement.
The Community Funding Program, which is now rolled out across six regional NSW areas giving away $20,000 every month, was established in Armidale in September 2016, aiming to support those organisations that work every day to make their community even greater.
Such was the response and success, the program soon expanded into the wider New England region.
Greater Bank’s Community Engagement Manager, Ingrid Kaczor, said the program provides an incredible opportunity to broaden the reach of its support across the New England region.
“This program has not only opened our eyes to, but also enabled us to connect with and support so many amazing community groups across the New England region that are run by passionate and dedicated people that work hard to support their communities,”
Ingrid Kaczor, Greater Bank Community Engagement Manager
“Our funding program has shone a light on how many amazing groups there are in our communities that can be providing very specific support. Most of the time they go unnoticed outside of those people they directly support, which makes it difficult for them to get any sort of financial support.
“Sporting teams have used the funding to purchase training equipment, support groups provide programs for victims of domestic violence, animal rescue services provide care for stray and abandoned pets and schools have been able to update playground equipment.
“Each and every one of the winners and runners up have expressed great appreciation for this support.”
The #GreaterNewEngland program winner for April was Somerton Public School P&C, who used the $3000 windfall to install water filters at the school after the playground bubblers were disconnected because of COVID.
Somerton Public School P&C President, Leianna Kneipp, said the committee’s entire focus is the children and this was the most significant issue facing the cohort.
“We are a small school of 21 children and everything we do is for our kids,” Leianna said.
“The school’s bubblers were disconnected during the pandemic and kids were having to lug multiple water bottles to school each day. We’re on bore water at Somerton, so the money from Greater Bank will enable us to install filters so the kids have access to cleaner, fresher water at school every day.
“Fundraising is quite a challenge in such a small community – and that’s without the additional challenges of the COVID pandemic over the past couple of years.
“This is a real boost to the spirits of our school. We just want to give all our kids the best chance of success and that means providing as many additional resources and activities as we can.”
ENTER NOW!
Entry for future monthly rounds of the #GreaterNewEngland community funding program is now open.
If you are involved in or know of a community group that could do with additional financial support, let them know about #GreaterNewEngland and encourage them to enter. Entry is open to grassroots sporting clubs, school P&C associations, charities and not-for-profit volunteer-run organisations, to name a few.
Entering is easy - head to greater.com.au/greaternewengland, provide your organisation details, and a short explanation and photo of the great work you're doing in the community, and you're in the running!
Competition terms and conditions apply. See website for details.