Future2, the philanthropic arm of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), has awarded over $147,000 in grants this year to community not-for-profit organisations with programs for socially and financially disadvantaged young Australians.
It represents an almost 30 percent increase on the $115,000 awarded by Future2 last year through its Future2 Make the Difference! annual grants program. This year’s recipients were selected from 91 applications, each endorsed by a local FPA member.
Making the announcement at the Future2 Gala Dinner at the FPA Professionals Congress in Perth tonight, Future2 Chair Matthew Rowe CFP® said the increase in grant funds this year is thanks to the generosity of FPA members, and many others connected with the financial planning profession, who rallied to help make a meaningful difference to their communities.
Out of the $147,000 awarded in grants, $70,000 was for new single year grants of $10,000, with the remainder being a continuation of multi-year grants over three years.
The Future2 Make the Difference! grants help fund projects that give hope for a better future to 18-25 year olds who may be financially disadvantaged, homeless, juvenile justice offenders, drug or alcohol dependent, disabled, or disadvantaged in some other respect.
Funded projects have been in the areas of financial literacy, skills training, work experience, community service and mentoring. The Future2 Foundation was established in 2007 and awarded its first grant the same year.
Next year’s grant applications open in April 2017, with information available at www.future2foundation.org.au
Awarded to | Program | Endorsed by | Amount |
Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc (Adelaide, SA) | MYSA’s ‘Little Miss Fix It’ Program | Yee-Wah Hooi- Duran CFP® | $10,000 |
Kimberley Group Training (Kununurra, WA) | KGT Hospitality Program | Colleen Walter CFP® | $10,000 |
West Moonah Community House (West Moonah, TAS) | L1 Licence Training | James McCulloch CFP® | $10,000 |
EACH – Headspace (Port Macquarie, NSW) | Holyoake Drumbeat Program | Warrick Affleck CFP® | $10,000 |
BestLife Inc Carindale, QLD) | BestLife Sleepovers | David Larman CFP® | $10,000 |
The Carevan Foundation, (Albury, NSW) | Kids Cooking and Caring | Neil Evans CFP® | $10,000 |
Waringarri Media Aboriginal Corporation (Kununurra, WA) | East Kimberley Kids Media Participation | Julie Matheson CFP® | $10,000 |
About the 2016 grant recipients
Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc, Adelaide, SA
The MYSA ‘Little Miss Fix it’ program targets young women aged 12-25 years, from multi- cultural backgrounds, to improve their independent living skills and ultimately their future education and employment outcomes. The focus of the program is on building skills and knowledge, as it is more often than not held by men and aims to reduce reliance on male partners and/or family members.
Kimberley Group Training, Kununurra WA
The KGT Hospitality pre-employment program is focused on equipping the most disadvantaged youths in the Kimberley region with the necessary employment and life skills they need to join mainstream employment. Guaranteed jobs are made available during the program and upon graduation.
West Moonah Community House, West Moonah, TAS
The L1 Licence Training Program provides a practical way to improve the employment prospects of young adults with low literacy skills, as well as those from non-English speaking backgrounds living in Tasmania. It teaches and encourages safe and responsible use of our roads with the goal of reducing the number of juvenile and adult offences connected with unlicensed driving.
EACH – Headspace, Port Macquarie, NSW
The Holyoake Drumbeat program is an evidence-based music program which draws from the Aboriginal culture and aims to build resilience through rhythm. It focuses on different relationship themes such as peer pressure and low self-esteem.
BestLife Inc, Carindale QLD
BestLife foundation’s aim is to improve the quality of life for youths living with disabilities between the ages of 6 and 19. The BestLife Sleepover program provides quality out-of-home weekend opportunities for these young individuals to participate in everyday childhood activities, improve their life skills, develop friendships, and build lifelong networks.
The Carevan Foundation, Albury, NSW
The Kids cooking and caring program has provided in excess of 50,000 meals since 2009. Carevan works with year nine students in local secondary schools who plan, develop and cook meals for less fortunate children in their community. Carevan provides a safe and friendly environment where children receive a wholesome meal and they can be themselves without the distraction of issues at home.
Warringarri Media Aboriginal Corporation, Kununurra WA
East Kimberley Kids Media Participation program has been developed to be a voice for school children living in a dysfunctional environment where suicide, family violence, drug and substance abuse are prevalent and affecting school attendance. The grant will be used to write and consolidate the program as a tool to encourage children to go to school.