This year’s Community Benefit Fund is now open for applications with cash grants of up to $1,000 on offer.
The program is awarding cash grants to support initiatives in the categories of health and wellbeing, community safety, education, environment and sustainability, arts and culture for the fourth year in a row. This year, the airport is also calling for initiatives aimed at supporting local indigenous communities or enhancing indigenous cultural awareness.
The Community Benefit Fund is run by the airport’s parent company, Queensland Airports Limited (QAL), which has supported about 150 groups and initiatives since 2016, providing more than $150,000 in funding.
Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton said the airport was committed to advancing the Gold Coast and northern NSW regions and the Community Benefit Fund was an important vehicle to achieve that.
“This fund works well for schools, sporting clubs, charities, community support services and surf clubs,” she said.
“We are looking forward to hearing about more of the great things Gold Coast and northern NSW community groups are doing and supporting as many of them as we can.
“Last year we supported almost 50 initiatives across the group and about half of the total applications received.
“Applications can be made online and take less than an hour – we understand many of these local groups are run by volunteers and don’t have the resources to produce sponsorship proposals that a long time to develop.”
More than 350 students at Pacific Pines State High School enjoy a healthy breakfast every week, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Pacific Pines and, in part, to a grant from Gold Coast Airport.
The club purchased kitchen equipment, including a sandwich grill, toaster, chopping boards and cutlery to run its breakfast club with the fund grant money.
Club President Natalie McMahon said the group was concerned about the number of children in Australia going to school without breakfast.
“Research says about one in seven kids goes to school hungry,” she said.
“The kids are so grateful, and local businesses have really got behind us by donating food or money each week for breakfast ingredients.
“We hope to expand to more days and other schools in our area if we are able to secure sufficient donations and volunteers to provide the service.”
Other community groups that have received a grant from Gold Coast Airport’s Community Benefit Fund in the past include local schools, sports clubs and daycare centres as well as the Animal Welfare League, the Sanctuary Women and Children’s Refuge and the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation.
To receive a $1,000 grant, groups need to demonstrate their ability to deliver positive outcomes in at least one of the nominated funding categories.
Applications for this year’s Community Benefit Fund are open until 23 June 2019.
For more information and to apply, visit www.goldcoastairport.com.au/corporate/community-benefit-fund
The Community Benefit Fund was established in 2016, providing more than $50,000 a year in support to community grassroots events and initiatives.
Queensland Airports Limited supports more than 70 local community, business, environmental and tourism initiatives and events across Queensland and northern New South Wales through corporate sponsorship.