Impact in Action: Visiting Beneficiaries in NSW
In December 2024, Executive Officer Jasmin Barry-Keen had the privilege of visiting three of our inspiring grant recipients in New South Wales: St Laurence House, Royal Hospital for Women Foundation, and Mountains Anglican Refugee Support. Each visit brought to life the meaningful work being done through our grants and the profound impact of our funding on the lives of those in need.
St Laurence House: Empowering Young Futures
Our $30,000 grant to St Laurence House is opening doors to education for young people who have experienced homelessness. Already, five youth have benefitted from funds covering essential educational expenses like school uniforms, textbooks, and sporting equipment.
Notably, four of the young people living at St Laurence House recently achieved a significant milestone - completing their HSC (Higher School Certificate), paving the way to university education. In 2024, these students will receive $2,500 scholarships funded by our grant to support their transition to higher education.
Royal Hospital for Women Foundation: Supporting Fragile Lives
The NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at the Royal Hospital for Women is transforming care for premature babies under 1000g through a Personalised Enteral Nutrition Feeding Program. This program, supported with a $50,000 grant, has introduced a groundbreaking approach to nutrition, incorporating exclusively human milk diets supplemented with Human Milk Derived Fortifier.
Key outcomes from the pilot include:
Significant reductions in malnutrition and improved nourishment rates.
Enhanced growth metrics like weekly weight gain, head circumference, and length.
Faster transitions to full feeding and fewer days on intravenous nutrition.
These results not only ease the workload for nursing staff but also promise improved neurodevelopmental outcomes for these vulnerable infants, offering hope for brighter futures.
Mountains Anglican Refugee Support: Rebuilding Lives in the Blue Mountains
The Mountains Anglican Refugee Support group continues to extend a lifeline to refugees rebuilding their lives in Australia. In December or January, our $14,000 grant will support an Afghani mother and her two teenage daughters arriving from Iran, providing them with vital financial and social support.
Stories from earlier in 2024 highlight the transformative power of this support:
Marzi, who fled Iran, is now living independently, studying cyber security at TAFE, and working part-time in a clothing alteration business. With the help of dedicated volunteers, she even earned her driving license - a key step toward independence.
Raziyeh, also from Iran, recently married Mohammed, a fellow refugee. Their wedding brought together over 150 community members, blending tradition with local warmth and generosity.
A Heartfelt Thank You
These visits reaffirmed the incredible impact our funding has in the community. Whether it’s empowering youth, supporting fragile newborns, or helping refugees find stability and belonging, every grant is a testament to the power of supporting grassroots charities.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our donors and supporters for making this life-changing work possible. Together, we’re not just offering support - we’re building brighter futures for those who need it most.