Westfield Kotara is shining a light on some of our local heroes and they need your help.
The six finalists of the 2021 Westfield Kotara Local Hero grant program have been announced and now is the time to cast your vote.
The initiative, now in its fourth year, is all about shining a light on locals whose work through businesses and community organisations goes above and beyond for the benefit of all of us.
And, three of the finalists will be awarded a $10,000 grant to go toward their worthy causes.
This year, the initiative will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand with a total grant pool of $1.2 million.
Check out this year’s local finalists and cast your vote now. Voting closes on Monday 30 August.
Amy Harrison
Top Blokes Foundation
Top Blokes Foundation’s Head of Programs & Operations, Amy Harvison encourages thousands of young boys and men to look after their mental health and avoid risky behaviours.
She uses her extensive knowledge to develop mentoring programs that help at-risk boys and young men become future leaders. If Amy is successful, the Top Blokes Foundation will use its funds to mentor an additional 30 young males from schools on its waitlist.
Ann-Maria Martin
Survivors R Us Incorporated
Ann-Maria Martin founded Survivors R Us in 2017 to provide much-needed support for women experiencing domestic violence and others needing help to piece their lives back together. Her charity offers food relief, counselling, clothing and furniture.
If Ann-Maria is successful, Survivor’s R Us will use its funds to train staff in counselling, first aid and suicide prevention.
Christine Jones
LIVEFree Project
Christine is the founder of the LIVEFree Project. She gives her time relentlessly, delivering weekly mentoring, doorstep check-ins, clothing parcels, household goods and furniture to people rebuilding their lives.
If successful, LIVEFree Project will provide holistic support to 30 local families directly affected by domestic family violence – offering resources, crisis supplies, check-ins, transportation, meals, groceries and advocacy.
Justine Russell
Police Citizens Youth Clubs NSW
Justine Russell has dedicated the past 10 years to helping vulnerable young people turn their lives around with mentoring, education and support. Justine works and volunteers at the Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC).
Lisa Greissl
Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Lisa Greissl has devoted the past five years to raising more than $110,000 for Cure Cancer while juggling a young family and paid work. In 2018 Lisa started The Big Box Hug initiative, which sells beautiful gift boxes and donates the profits to the foundation.
If Lisa is successful, Cure Cancer will use the funds to deliver Random Hugs of Kindness boxes to 142 patients.
Luke Conners
Talk2mebro
Luke Conners started Talk2mebro in the Newcastle area in 2019 with the goal to end suicide. Teaching emotional resilience, active listening skills to support others and providing the resources to get support for yourself or others. The former soldier has reached more than 8000 Novocastrians through his work at seminars, retreats, schools, businesses and sports clubs.
f Luke is successful, Talk2mebro will use its funds to train more facilitators, subsidise the cost of programs for those who can’t afford it
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