Homeless Projects Benefit from Diners Donations
21 April 2010 at 10:44 am
StreetSmart Australia has announced community grants to organisations across Australia as a result of its ‘dine out to help out’ campaign.
Both restaurateurs and diners across Australia supported for the cause by adding an extra $2 to their dining bill and also through online donations and one off events and raised $351,410.
Some 250 restaurants across VIC, NSW, QLD, ACT and SA participated in the program.
Organisers StreetSmart will deliver the funds to 84 grassroots projects that are delivering aid as well as longer term initiatives helping to move people out of homelessness.
StreetSmart says 100% of funds raised through participating restaurants go to homeless organisations – with the majority of the grant recipients located in the same area as the participating restaurants. It says all administrative costs to run StreetSmart are covered through sponsorship and volunteer efforts.
StreetSmart has also awarded participants for their efforts naming winners for categories: National Fundraiser of the Year and a Fundraiser of the Year for each participating State. Mecca bah in Brisbane took out the national and QLD state award with Lowenbrau Keller in NSW and Red Spice Road in VIC the top fundraisers for their state.
StreetSmart CEO Adam Robinson says StreetSmart brings thousands of people and hundreds of small businesses together.
StreetSmart Ambassador and media personality Sarah Wilson, says one of the most wonderful aspects of this campaign is the way it tapped into the food blogging community.
Wilson says it generated incredible dialogue on Twitter among food lovers, allowing them an important voice while building awareness and raising funds from within a community.
StreetSmart supports critical services and emergency aid as well as projects that promote social inclusion, empowerment and sustainable change for people who are homeless. To date StreetSmart has raised and distributed $1,180,000 to 272 grassroots projects.
For full details on the campaign please visit: www.streetsmartaustralia.org
