BEYOND BANK AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES $100,000 FOUNDATION TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE RIVERINA REGION
Announcement posted by Beyond Bank Australia 23 May 2016
23 May 2016
Beyond Bank Australia officially launched their Foundation today in the Riverina; kicking off the fund with a $100,000 commitment to the region and providing $10,000 grants to two local not-for-profit organisations.
“We have a long history in the Riverina community, and through our recent merger with Country First Credit Union, we now have operations in Griffith Leeton and Narrandera,” Beyond Bank CEO, Robert Keogh explained.
“While we have been hard at work bringing the operations of our two financial institutions together, we were always keen to make sure we didn’t delay becoming involved in and supporting the local community.”
Beyond Bank Australia is a 100% customer-owned bank and is run for the benefit of its customers. Beyond Bank’s profits are not directed to external shareholders – they are reinvested back into the bank in the form of improving products and services for their customers and their communities.
“Today we have formalised just one measure through which we hope to play a role in supporting the Riverina community, and this is by establishing a Foundation that enables us to provide funds to local not-for-profit organisations when they need help with funding for new equipment, initiatives and activities,” Mr Keogh said.
In an event to be held in Griffith tonight, Beyond Bank announced the first two not-for-profits to receive a grant from the Foundation. Kalinda School and Griffith-Leeton Riding for Disabled Association will both receive $10,000 to assist them with vital projects.
The Riding for Disabled Association (RDA) gives children with special needs the opportunity to ride and enjoy all activities associated with horse riding. Horse riding is both therapeutic and recreational. There are 60-70 children who use the Riding for Disabled facility on a weekly basis. It takes a team of over 40 volunteers as well as a full time caretaker and their family to operate this important service.
Griffith-Leeton RDA Head Coach, Cherie Berton thanked Beyond Bank Australia for the support saying; “The donation will go towards replacing our Caretakers Cottage. As we are a non-profit organisation and receive no Government funding, it is extremely difficult to find the funds for projects such as these. The role of our Caretaker is extremely instrumental in the day to day running of our centre and the care of our horses. It would be difficult to run our centre without one.
Kalinda School provides education services for students aged between 4 and 19 who have moderate to severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Students at Kalinda are engaged in supportive learning environments assisted by evolving technologies and underpinned by innovative and effective teaching practices. In turn its students use their learned skills to enrich the lives of those within the community.
Acting Principal of Kalinda School, Bel Wallace explained how the funds will help the school’s 41 students. “Kalinda School provides high quality education for individuals with an intellectual disability. We utilise a number of innovative resources in order to ensure that all students grow and achieve to their full potential. Students benefit from the use of technology to assist communication, the development of social skills, and to achieve academic success every day.
“This grant allows us to purchase a number of LCD Interactive Panels to enhance all students access to these tools within the classroom. We thank Beyond Bank for their generous contribution, and look forward to sharing our students’ success with the community.”
Beyond Bank will continue to partner with both organisations. Mr Keogh said, “The grants announced this evening will not provide all the funding Riding for Disabled and Kalinda School need to complete these projects. Therefore, Beyond Bank staff in the region will work with each community group to help fundraise the additional funds for these very worthwhile projects.”