Greater Shepparton Foundation builds partnerships and collaborations to connect the needs of the local community with essential resources and skills to tackle and disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. The Foundation Features series will help shine a light on those driving change through innovative initiatives, as well as highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.
Last week, at a small ceremony, we were thrilled to announce the successful applicants of the 2023 Lift Off Education Scholarship program.
Congratulations to the 2023 cohort, Rowan Farren, Jai-Dee Riseley, Rachael-Lee White, Jemima Dali Ndisa, Honey Makiakama, Noah Sullivan, Jackson Bray, Sophie McLean, Zali Cornell, Lachlan Wright, Olivia-Grace Cartwright, Ella-Rei Dunlop, Harrison Shortis, Jared Pitolau and Angelina Mason.
These young people completed their secondary schooling at various schools across the Goulburn Valley and have received scholarships ranging from one to three years in duration.
The Lift Off program marks a significant 10-year milestone next year.
Over this time, including the 2023 cohort, Lift Off has supported 120 local students into further education, and incredibly to the tune of more than $500,000.
We can however only do this with the support of our scholarship sponsors.
To date we have been so fortunate to have business, individuals and the philanthropic sector come together to support these young people to overcome financial and other barriers to their education aspirations and to achieving their full potential since its inception in 2014.
To continue our Lift Off Education Scholarships and support another 120 local young people through further education we need your support.
If you are interested in finding out how you can be a one-off sponsor/donor or an annual sponsor, you can email me at amanda@greatershepparton.foundation
To measure the intended and unintended impact of this program we recently surveyed Lift Off Scholarship recipients and were thrilled with the results.
How many programs can hand-on-heart say they positively influenced the trajectory of someone’s life?
The Lift Off Education Scholarship program can; 100 per cent of survey responders who received a scholarship agreed that Lift Off had positively influenced the trajectory of their life.
As a Lift Off sponsor, you will have the opportunity to connect with the young person that is directly supported by your sponsorship.
Pictured is 2023 recipient Sophie McLean with Kirsty Ash and Cindy Hansford representing the Women’s Charter Alliance, the sponsor of Sophie’s scholarship.
Kirsty and Cindy connected with Sophie and she was able to share with them what a difference the support had made as she embarked on her higher education journey and for the opportunity that had now been afforded to her to achieve her goals and dreams.
For more information regarding Lift Off Education Scholarships please visit the ‘Scholarships’ page on our website www.greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time,
Amanda McCulloch
EO Greater Shepparton Foundation