Rural Philanthropy
9 October 2000 at 12:10 pm
An innovative philanthropic body set up this year to support the social and economic regeneration of rural and regional communities in Australia has awarded $500,000 in grants across the country.
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) aims to encourage partnerships between communities, philanthropy, business and government, supporting projects it says will make a difference to the whole community.
The Foundation was initiated by the Sidney Myer Fund, which was concerned about the major social and economic challenges facing rural Australia.
The Sidney Myer Fund made a $1million grant over four years to seed fund the Foundation and the Federal Government allocated $14.5million as an active partner.
Seven successful projects received funding in the Foundation’s recent first round of grant-making. The projects include setting up regional Community Foundations, a Community Sport program, a regional youth project, an organic farming accreditation project, an Internet technology education project for rural people, a project to promote indigenous culture in the Kimberley Region and a national tourism initiative.
Last week the FRRR CEO Peter Cook and his staff moved from their temporary offices at the Sidney Myer Fund in Melbourne to more permanent headquarters at Mt. Barker in South Australia.
For more information visit the web site at www.frrr.netconnect.com.au, or contact Catherine Brown on 03 9481 5456.
