The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and its life changing community initiatives yesterday received a significant boost, thanks to a major funding announcement by the Victorian State Government.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence was joined by Member for Footscray Katie Hall at VU Whitten Oval to announce the funding of $3.2 million over the next four years for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.
The significant funding will allow the Foundation to continue to make a real difference to people and communities in the West, using the power of sport.
The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation is the Club’s community arm that delivers life-changing initiatives reaching out to more than 20,000 community members in Melbourne’s west each year.
The funding will help the Foundation deliver its programs to support community health and wellbeing, youth leadership, cultural diversity, social inclusion, and community advocacy. These programs see local health experts, community organisations and Bulldogs players come together to make a positive difference for locals.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence lauded the Foundation’s impactful work across the West.
“The work of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation has not only inspired footy fans, it has helped change the lives and fortunes of the many people who have participated in the Foundation’s programs,” she said.
“We’re proud to support these programs that make a real difference, giving people the skills and the confidence they need to tackle what life throws at them.”
This funding will enable more people in the western suburbs of Melbourne and western region of Victoria to access a range of programs like GOAL, Sons and Daughters of the West, and the Youth Leadership Project, which provide valuable tools to succeed and thrive within communities.
Member for Footscray Katie Hall highlighted how the funding will help many of her local constituents.
“The Western Bulldogs are the heart and soul of the west. This boost will help deliver more targeted programs that help community members overcome the challenges of day-to-day life,” she said.
The boost will also allow the Foundation to deliver community programs to more locations in Melbourne’s west, showcasing the role that sport can play to help change lives.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Victorian State Government for their budget commitment to the Bulldogs Community Foundation and our life changing capacity building initiatives,” said Western Bulldogs General Manager of Community and Government Relations, Kashif Bouns.
“This important investment will allow us to sustain our real and meaningful impact for thousands of people across the west of Melbourne and Victoria.”
The Labor Government has also invested more than $46 million in the Stage 2 redevelopment of Whitten Oval.
The project includes new dedicated spaces at Whitten Oval for the Bulldogs’ Community Foundation to host more programs as well as upgrades to change rooms, elite training facilities, oval improvements, a new Whitten Stand and more.
Joining Minister Spence and Katie Hall MP at the announcement were Member for Williamstown the Honourable Melissa Horne, Member for Melton Steve McGhie, Member for Kororoit Luba Grigorovitch, Chair of the Foundation Board Gaye Hamilton, Community Foundation General Manager Kashif Bouns and Community Foundation Directors Sue Clark, Jerril Rechter and Aisha Nicolay, along with a suite of Community Foundation participants.
For more information, visit westernbulldogs.com.au/foundation.
