Thank you Future2 Foundation!
In 2018, Future2 Foundation awarded over $180,000 in grants to community not-for-profit organisations with programs for socially and financially disadvantaged young Australians. There are 19 charity organisations across Australia who received grants, each endorsed by a local Financial Planning Association (FPA) member. We congratulate one of our Partner’s, Richard Addison, on his success in receiving a grant for the Chances Scholarship Program.
In 2005, when the farmers of Moira Shire were suffering significant hardship as fires had ravaged their fences, many Boroondara Rotarians, under the banner “Boroondara Cares Foundation (BCF)” headed north to help the farmers rebuild. One of the projects is the Chances Scholarship Program. The BCF Chances Scholarship program closes the gap on educational inequality and poverty by providing educational scholarships to financially disadvantaged, motivated and talented young people between the ages of 12 and 25 who live and/or study in Boroondara.
In Boroondara, there are approximately 7,000 people living below the poverty line. It is essential that their children be given every opportunity to maximise their potential and escape the poverty cycle.
Education provides a clear path to personal success, however these students encounter significant “headwinds” in Boroondara.
Boroondara is an affluent suburb. If you are an underprivileged child attending school in Boroondara, the social divide between affluent and underprivileged is clearly visible. It is easy for children from underprivileged homes to perceive themselves as ‘second class’ and this attitude leads to under-achievement and a descending spiral of disengagement from the education system.
“The CHANCES Program reached its 10th anniversary in 2017 and has an outstanding success record at keeping children in school through secondary and tertiary education. We have awarded over 900 scholarships, and 99% of our recipients have completed a degree or vocational qualification.
Today we provide nearly 100 scholarships to students, and we could assist many more if funds weren’t limited.
In a 2017 study by independent consultants “Think Impact”, it was determined that for every $1 invested in students, more than $13 of social and economic benefit was derived. This benefit was delivered to the students, their family and the wider community.
It is hard to see a better social investment than CHANCES.
The CHANCES program is reliant on the goodwill of its supporters. There is no government support available to “Affluent Boroondara”. This is disappointing as a child in need is a child in need anywhere and this is not determined by geographical boundaries.
We have had good support from philanthropic organisations in the past, but this is an unreliable source of income and increasingly harder to obtain.
It is therefore, it is up to our community and our supporters to ensure the future of this program.
If you can assist with this program please contact (03) 85956721
Another big thank you to the Future2 Foundation and the Financial Planning Association of Australia community. Click here for the full list of Future2 2018 – Make the Difference Grants. If you would like to discuss this great cause with one of our trusted Financial Specialists, please complete your details below and we’ll be in touch or give us a call on 03 9835 8200.
