This year the Nelson Alexander Foundation celebrates 20 years of supporting our local community
Through the Foundation, we provide financial and volunteering support to organisations working to address a wide range of issues, with a particular focus on our pillars: Youth, Education and Alleviating Disadvantage.
The Foundation welcomed the new committee at our first meeting in March, and it was with renewed energy that we discussed the year ahead, including our volunteering programme, Foundation Day, and our ongoing small grants distribution.
Thus far in 2025 we have donated $51,743 to 41 recipients. This distribution includes both our small grants programme and also our ongoing per annum sponsorships to the following organisations:
The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation
$5,000 to support the ChIPS camping programme.
ChIPS is a world class and highly unique program at The Royal Children’s Hospital, which has created life-changing impact for thousands of children and young people aged 14 to 25 years old. The programme supports young people with chronic, often incurable conditions, and enables them to go on a camp, interact with others going through similar situations who they can build friendships with. This has an enormous impact on the mental health outcomes for these young people and supports their families and siblings.
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
$5,000 to support their Foodbank
The ASRC Foodbank supports people seeking asylum to access food, the aim is to reduce food insecurity by providing access to sufficient, nutritious and culturally appropriate food. They also provide basic toiletries and cleaning goods.
The ASRC Foodbanks supports approximately 1200 people per month, approximately 40% of whom are children.
Exodus Community – Heidelberg West
In 2024 we set up an ongoing grant of $2,000 per annum to support the work of the Exodus Community in honour of Connor Whyte who volunteered with this organisation.
Along with this annual donation we have recently provided additional funding of $1,200 to assist in the preparation of an available property to house a young homeless woman who is pregnant.
Royal Women’s Hospital - Parkville
In partnership with the Fitzroy/Carlton North offices we have committed $6,600 per annum for the next 2 years to support two nursing scholarships.
The scholarships will allow:
- Staff to complete professional development and further education
- Empower staff to gain new skills and competencies as specialists in their field
- Enhance patient care
Berry Street Family Services
The Nelson Alexander Foundation has partnered with Berry Street Family Services since 2018, providing grants to individual families via both our small grants programme and Foundation Day.
The Foundation has provided $58,000 in funding to ensure families in crisis are supported whether it be for educational resources, white goods, food vouchers or paying gap medical fees.
We really appreciate this relationship as it allows us to ensure our funding reaches vulnerable families who reside within our footprint.
Volunteering Programme
With all Nelson Alexander staff being provided with 2 additional days leave to volunteer at a corporate event or an organisation of their own choosing, an extensive volunteering programme has been put in place for 2025.
Already we have had a team from our Carlton North office, ably supported by Maryann Tyrrell our Business Support committee representative assist Regenerate Org, our 2024 Christmas card charity partner set up a home for a family fleeing domestic violence.
In the coming weeks we have teams from the Brunswick/Coburg offices heading to St Mary’s House of Welcome to host a BBQ for their clients and then a team from Keilor East & Preston heading to the Cheltenham warehouse of Pets of the Homeless, where they will be packing pet food and essential items to support those with pets experiencing homelessness.
Speak to us if you have any questions regarding the work of the Nelson Alexander Foundation and we look forward to our continued support of our local community.
