Nicole Wright
News

By Nicole Wright

Since its establishment in 1846, the IOOF group has always had a philanthropic core. When IOOF Limited demutualised in 2002, the IOOF Foundation was established with a grant of two million shares in order to ensure that this philanthropy would continue. This endowment allows the IOOF Foundation to provide substantial funding to worthwhile organisations on an ongoing basis.

The IOOF Foundation is dedicated to making an ongoing commitment to the community in which we live and therefore focuses on Australian not-for-profit organisations working in the following areas:

  • disadvantaged families;
  • aged care; and
  • disadvantaged children and youth.

Since 1 July 2009, the Foundation has granted more than $1.1 million to 13 worthwhile organisations, making a real difference to the communities in which we live.

The IOOF Foundation recently made grants to the following organisations:

  • Urban Seed combines street work in the heart of Melbourne with education programs and a strong independent voice on urban, business, social and political issues including homelessness, drug addiction, problem gambling and poverty. Urban Seed received funds for the EDGE program, a program designed to work with year 9 students from entrenched lower socio-economic areas.
  • The Infants’ Home Child & Family Services is one of Sydney's oldest charities established in 1874 providing services to over 1000 families with children under six years old. The organisation’s charter is to provide care, support, health and education services for young children and their families, especially for families from vulnerable backgrounds. The funding provided by the IOOF Foundation supports the Good Start program. This program works with families experiencing domestic violence.
  • Lyrebird Villages for the Aged Inc is a not-for-profit organisation which has been providing residential care services to the people of Drouin and the surrounding district for the past 25 years. Lyrebird Village has an ‘aging in place’ philosophy which allows for all its residents to remain at the home for the duration of their lives. The IOOF Foundation grant provided medical and recreational equipment for a new 17 bed dementia-specific unit.

The IOOF Foundation will continue to fund and provide assistance to innovative and essential Australian charities and to provide a hand up to those in need. In order to continue its charitable work, the IOOF Foundation continually seeks support from the public. If you are interested in making a donation to the IOOF Foundation or would like further information on the Foundation’s ongoing work, visit the IOOF Foundation website at www.iooffoundation.org.au or contact me on 03 8614 4560.

Kind regards,
Nicole Wright
Foundation Manager