The Buderim Foundation is once again supporting local families with back-to-school expenses through the provision of $43,500 worth of vouchers, which have been distributed through schools and community organisations.
This year, the 570 vouchers have been distributed through Chancellor State College, Mountain Creek State School, Mountain Creek State High School and SunnyKids, as part of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) Back to School Program.
Buderim Foundation Chair Rod McKinnon said the Buderim Foundation has been participating in the Back-to-School Program for the past 20 years.
“Since 2005, we have now distributed 5,799 vouchers, with the total value of $304,950,” Mr McKinnon said.
“Unfortunately, this is the last year the FRRR is running the Back-to-School Program, but we are very grateful that together we have been able to help provide some small but meaningful financial relief for local families.
“We were also supported along the way by the BWMCA, Buderim Rotary and Lions Clubs which, together with the Buderim Foundation provided some matched funding over the life of the program.”
Mr McKinnon said this year the vouchers included 270 vouchers worth $50 each to help families with expenses such as school uniforms, school or sports shoes and equipment, or stationery and school supplies.
“This year, a further 300 vouchers worth $100 each were provided to help families with school-related technology expenses such as tablets and iPads, calculators, IT related items such as headphones, keyboards and mice, printers, portable drives or internet data for completion of schoolwork.”
Buderim Foundation Grants Committee Chair Linda Bolton said the grants were important not only because of the immediate assistance they provided, but for the positive ripple effects they had.
“The school chaplains who distribute these grants have told us over the years that these relatively small individual contributions often mean students and their families feel loved and cared for by the local community and also more confident and get more involved at school, which has educational and social benefits for them.”
The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation that aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives in the Buderim area by harnessing the power of giving.
The Foundation works by carefully investing all donations and bequests which are never spent. The earnings from these investments are redistributed to the community via an annual grants program open to not-for-profit community organisations that provide a service and support to residents in the 4556-postcode area.
In addition, the Foundation manages the Thompson Charitable Fund which provides grants to organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness and financial distress on the whole Sunshine Coast.
