November 26 2009
Laing O'Rourke's recently launched Community Grant Scheme has proven extremely successful, with six community organisations benefitting from a combined $32,500 in grants to date.
The grants have been used for initiatives ranging from the upgrade of a respite centre for seriously ill children to a program where engineering students customise bicycles for children with a disability.
Through the scheme, which is part of the EPIC Communities stream of programs, staff nominate local not-for-profit organisations that need assistance for a particular initiative or program.
Communities Committee Chair Norman Pack said the grant scheme had proven very popular.
"Our staff, particularly project staff, are often approached to provide funding for not-for-profit programs and through this scheme they are now able to give back to their local communities," Norm said.
"Not only are our staff applying for these grants, but often they are also investing their own time, using their volunteer leave (another EPIC Communities program) to spend a day working with these organisations."
Project grants to date include:
Josiah's Bicycle ($10,000) - Funding and mentoring to help University of Western Australia engineering students customise bicycles for children with a disability.
Bear Cottage ($5000) - Refurbishment of the family recreation room at a New South Wales children's hospice. (Laing O'Rourke staff will also use their Volunteer Leave to help with the renovations.) Associated project - Latitude 33 Development, Manly, NSW
Development Manager Mark Maryska (pictured left) recently handed over the $5000 cheque to Manly Mayor Jean Hay at Bear Cottage.
Warlawurru Catholic School ($5000) - In conjunction with WA Health, a vegetable garden, including 30 metres of kangaroo proof fencing, was constructed at a remote school. This project will assist in the promotion of a healthy lunch program, part of a wider scheme to promote healthy behaviours for life. Associated project - Team Savannah
Northern Territory hearing program ($5000) - Funding to assist University of NSW occupational therapists buy sound amplification systems for children in the Amplitiwatja community in the Northern Territory. About 80 per cent of children in the community have conductive hearing loss.
Mater Health Services Childcare ($5000) - Refurbishment of a community childcare centre. (Laing O'Rourke staff will also use their Volunteer Leave to help with the renovations.) Associated project - Mater Hospital Carpark
Children's Book Council of Australia Sutherland sub-branch ($2500) - Funding for an event to discuss ways of enhancing literacy skills in the local community. Staff member nomination.
Click here to find out more about the EPIC Community Grant or Volunteer Leave schemes.
