GRANTS of $1000 are now available each month to support projects that benefit the Lake Macquarie community.
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Lake Macquarie City Council has partnered local not-for-profit group Community Activities Lake Macquarie (CALM) to launch Awesome Lake Mac, an innovative grassroots program offering the $1000 grants each month.
Council’s community development officer, Emilie Wiggers, said council was excited to launch Awesome Lake Mac with CALM, and was now looking for interested parties to join the Awesome Lake Mac board.
“We’re looking to fill nine permanent board member positions, as well as monthly guest board member positions for our new Awesome Lake Mac chapter,” Ms Wiggers said.
“Being a board member allows you to directly contribute to projects that support community members to positively impact their city. How awesome is that?
“We want to hear from people willing to give up around three hours and $100 a month to help bring awesome ideas to life in their own community. We are looking for board members who come from a range of backgrounds.”
I can’t tell you how often I hear exciting ideas – if they only had the funds to make them happen.
- - Sarah Berry
The board will award one $1000 grant a month, at a pitch event held at Canon, Warners Bay.
In 2019, three grant rounds will be held specifically for youth ideas, hearing from young people aged 16 to 24 years.
Since starting in 2009, Awesome Foundation chapters across the globe – including Australian chapters in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle – have given away more than $3 million.
CALM youth development officer, Sarah Berry, said the “no strings attached” nature of the Awesome Lake Mac grants program means ideas and initiatives that might not otherwise receive funding now have an avenue to become a reality.
“As someone who works closely with young people in Lake Macquarie, I can’t tell you how often I hear exciting ideas – if they only had the funds to make them happen,” Ms Berry said.
“We can’t wait to see what kinds of initiatives our board will help fund through this program.”
Apply to be a board member at awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/lakemac.