Tobin Brothers Foundation – Celebrating those who make a difference

We’re all familiar with the larger Australian charity organisations we’ve grown up with and come to admire and respect, but what of the smaller and equally worthy not for profit organisations? How do they survive and command our attention to their causes? It was these concerns that led to the establishment of the Tobin Brothers Foundation.

Since 1984, which marked Tobin Brothers Funerals 50th anniversary, the Tobin Brothers Foundation has made annual grants to organisations and individuals whose work can be shown to have meaningful community benefit. Since its establishment, the Foundation has made over 260 separate monetary awards now totaling over $400,000 to an array of worthy community groups.

This year, the Foundation made grants totalling more than $26,000 and on the 18th February the twelve recipients attended a ceremony at which their charity work in the community was formally recognised.

Introductions were made by Tobin Brothers Funerals Chairman Michael Tobin (left) and the Foundation Chairman Trevor O’Hoy (middle).

Also invited this year was a guest speaker, Michael Roberts (right), a former Australian Rules Footballer and now television sports journalist and reporter with the Nine Network and Triple M, who gave an inspiring speech about his life, his father Neil Roberts (a former St Kilda Football great) and various charity work they both have been involved with over the course of their careers.

During the weeks leading up to the event, each award recipient and in some cases their organisation were interviewed and later showcased in a short video during the ceremony, highlighting how they aid their local communities and what the grant will be used for.

At the conclusion of the event, plaques were presented to representatives of each organisation as acknowledgement and recognition of their charitable causes, which included:

THE SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM – TIMEHELP
http://www.timehelp.com.au

The grant will assist in supporting a School Volunteer liaison officer to recruit, train and match 15 volunteers to young students in Moreland schools.

DOWN SYNDROME VICTORIA
www.downsyndromevictoria.org.au

The grant will support running a “Choosing a School Workshop” for parents of up to 35 children starting prep in 2016. This would give parents information and tools to find the school to support their child.

CITY WIDE MINISTRIES

Stitches Buddies is a mentoring project to assist younger students with their homework who live in inner city public housing. The award will provide a suitable program for them to develop skills, knowledge and self confidence.

VICTORIAN DEAF SOCIETY
www.vicdeaf.com.au

VicDeaf provides financial support to Auslan interpreters and to Auslan users across Victoria needing support during their time of grief.  The award will provide 27 hours of Auslan interpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing members at funeral proceedings.

FIGHT CANCER FOUNDATION
https://www.fightcancer.org.au

The grant will provide accommodation for patients suffering from cancer and their carers in North Melbourne and purchase 13 slow cookers for each unit for guests to prepare a meal during treatment and hospital visits.

CANCER SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES FOUNDATION
https://csff.org.au

To assist in the funding of three projects (Financial Assistance Program, Patient Transport and Accommodation Program, Career and Education Program).

SOUTH EAST PALLIATIVE CARE
www.sepc.org.au

SEPC clients would like to leave a memoir for loved ones involving trained volunteer biographers. The award will assist in purchase of digital voice records and software to assist in the launch of the biography services.

WEAR FOR SUCCESS
www.wearforsuccess.org.au

The award will help deliver off site skills workshops providing disadvantaged unemployed men, women and young people across greater Melbourne with free personal presentation advice, interview coaching and resume advice.

SHINE FOR KIDS COOPERTAIVE LTD
www.shineforkids.org.au

Project contributes to purposeful, positive and engaging diversionary activities for children when visiting their parent in prison in three prison facilities in Victoria.  The award will assist with training of suitable volunteers

ARDOCH YOUTH FOUNDATION
https://www.ardoch.asn.au

The award will assist in the provision of toys, books, games to Talking the Talk programs at three Sunshine kindergartens where vulnerable young children with language difficulties are supported by a speech pathologist.

SAINT JOHN THE MERCIFUL FOUNDATION LTD

The award will be used to purchase computer software and learning materials for a mentoring and tutoring program. The project includes mentoring for 29 disadvantaged primary and secondary students with over 20 volunteer tertiary students assisting in their studies.

We look forward to next years Tobin Brothers Foundation Awards and helping more charitable organisations continue their great and diverse work in the community.

Written by Matt Weedon – Tobin Brothers Funerals
Photography by Matt Weedon – Tobin Brothers Funerals
Video produced by Matt Weedon and Michael Lynch – Tobin Brothers Funerals