The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) has marked its biggest two- year period yet of giving to country Australia.
FRRR chairman Ian Sinclair said FRRR distributed $6.5million to rural and regional Australia in 2006 and 2007.
Speaking at the launch of FRRR’s two-year community report today, Mr Sinclair said the amount was the biggest since the foundation began in 2000.
“It almost matches the funding we delivered in FRRR’s first six years of operation,” Mr Sinclair said.
“What’s really important is that it reflects our increasing capacity to give which has been fuelled by more companies and private individuals opening their hearts and pockets to their fellow Australians in rural and regional areas. That tells us that people are learning how to give and give effectively.
“Over the past few year drought across the nation has been extraordinarily severe. This has led FRRR to focus on how best to help people overcome its devastating social and economic consequences, particularly through small grants to individuals and community organisations.”
FRRR was launched in 1999 with a $1million gift from the descendants of Australian retail pioneers Sidney and Merlyn Myer and $14.5million from the Federal Government. Since then, companies and individuals have donated a further $12.3million.
FRRR invests the money and distributes earnings as grants to fund everything from water tanks for fire brigades to rural teaching rounds for student teachers.
Its goal is to champion the economic and social strengths of Australia’s regional, rural and remote communities through partnerships with the private sector, philanthropy and governments
Since 2000 it has distributed $13.1 million to projects as diverse as cooking lessons for older men living alone in small towns, to setting up a neighbourhood house tool hire service for single mums, to sponsoring a mentoring program that matches troubled kids with adults, to helping reconnect children with their estranged families.
Recipients include hall committees, school councils, community foundations, retirees’ and youth groups and more. They’re encouraged to raise matching funds.
Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile launched FRRR’s 2006-07 Community Report at Parliament House in Canberra today.
It details how more businesses and individuals keen to boost rural and regional Australia are channelling philanthropic funds through FRRR and shows where grants have gone and what they’ve achieved.
Australia Post’s communications manager for Victoria and Tasmania Janice Mascini said FRRR’s enormous credibility, knowledge and expertise in rural communities made it a great vehicle for achieving Australia Post’s philanthropic goals.
Mr Sinclair said the 2006-07 Community Report was a tribute to FRRR’s many new and continuing partners including the Federal Government, the Myer Family Foundation, ANZ, The Pratt Foundation and the Bendigo Bank.
Copies of the report are available on request from info@frrr.org.au
