Applications have opened for the 2014 round of Medibank Community Fund (MCF) Community Grants, which provide funding and support for locally-focused preventative health projects.
The MCF Community Grants program supports local grassroots initiatives throughout Australia and New Zealand that encourage healthy eating, physical activity or community connectedness. Grants are allocated regionally and vary in value depending on the project.
Medibank's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Rita Marigliani said that in 2013, $600,000 in grants was provided to 51 community projects that covered a variety of worthy initiatives, including schools, sports clubs, community groups, indigenous organisations and mental health groups.
"The successful grants in 2013 were chosen by Medibank employees, who reviewed the applications and selected the projects that best-met the criteria. The process will be the same for 2014 and we are looking forward to learning more about local initiatives which are supporting the better health of their communities," said Ms Marigliani.
To apply for a Community Grant, projects must address at least one of the following criteria:
- healthy eating
- more exercise, or
- greater community connectedness.
Applications must be completed and submitted electronically. Application forms and the accompanying information kit for the 2014 Community Grants are available online from the Medibank Community Fund website
Completed applications will be accepted from 2 September 2013 until 12 mid-day AEDST, 6 December 2013.
Successful applicants will be announced by 1May 2014.
The Community Grants scheme complements the Fund's 'big picture' support of its established community partners such as Heart Foundation Walking, The Smith Family and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation by providing support for smaller grassroots projects that respond to the particular needs of specific groups in the community.
About the Medibank Community Fund
The Medibank Community Fund (MCF) was set up by Medibank in 2011 to encourage people of all ages to live longer and in good health. Each year one per-cent of Medibank's pre-tax profit is invested in the fund to support four program areas: partnerships, community grants, scholarship grants and donations. In 2012-2013, this resulted in around $3 million being directed to partnerships and programs that encourage healthy eating, greater activity and more community connectedness.