The ATC Foundation will distribute a further $150,000 in grants to a range of charities and racing industry organisations – the eighth round of grants since the Foundation’s inception.
The Foundation Chair, Angela Belle McSweeney stated “The ATC Foundation is very pleased to able to help the racing industry along with organisations around each of our racecourses.”
“On behalf of the ATC Foundation Board, our Club and Members, I thank everyone who has donated or purchased special merchandise for us to continue important work for so many groups.”
“As the Foundation Chair for the past three years it’s been an honour to champion the racing industry and important work our Club’s Foundation continues to do to give back to those in need.”
“In thanking the generosity of racing fans, ATC Members and partners, it is 11 organisations who made applications that will share in $151,820, being over $1.4 million in assistance since 2018.”
Funds were raised via on-course donations and sale of official Carnival pins including the TAB Everest and Golden Eagle, plus saddlecloth auctions from certain Group 1 Australian Turf Club races.
The eight Round of grants was in addition to the second half of a 2-year program with the National Jockeys Trust, Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy and Equine Pathways Australia.
Racing Industry Mental Health – Horse Aid Ltd – $15,000 – Assisting in retraining and rehoming ex-racehorses which provide unique equine assisted healing programs for serving and ex-serving defence personnel and first responders dealing with mental health challenges from service trauma.
Mental Health Disability Support All Racecourses – Morris Children’s Fund – $10,000 – Music Therapy weekly program conducted in the school term by a specialist teacher who works with Special Needs Schools using music as a medium to unlock the students’ hidden potential and capabilities.
Canterbury/Bankstown Disability Support – Cerebral Palsy Alliance – $15,000 – Funding to support the furniture fit out of the new, world-class disability centre in Roselands, with support being acknowledged through permanent signage in the centre which will open early 2025.
Kids with Cancer Foundation – $16,000 – Financial Assistance program funding for 8 x families who have a child aged 0-12 years being treated for cancer at Children’s Hospital at Westmead or Randwick.
Parramatta Randwick Mental Health – Lifeline Direct Ltd Lifeline Eastern Suburbs Bondi – $15,000 – Lifeline will support the ongoing psychological safety of 14 frontline volunteers who answer calls at Bondi.
Liverpool Sustainability – St Vincent de Paul NSW – $10,000 – Liverpool Men’s and Outreach Vans serving disadvantaged communities across Liverpool and Fairfield, delivering essential food and staples.
Randwick Mental Health – The Humour Foundation – $10,000 – Clown Doctors directly support the mental health and well-being of children in the Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick.
Mental Health – Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation – $20,000 – New Mental Health initiative for one weekly clinic with a psychologist for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment.
Mental Health – Dandelion Support Network Inc – $10,000 – Funding to support the purchase of essential nursery items such as bassinets, cots, prams and car seats for families in Sydney.
Parramatta Liverpool Mental Health – Learning Links – $17,390 – Psychologists to work with vulnerable children weekly on a variety of conditions and concerns including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger management and poor social skills in 2 school communities and up to 30 children.
Parramatta Mental Health – The Westmead Institute for Medical Research – $13,430 – Purchase of wearable devices for WIMR’s Brain Dynamics Centre, where researchers are focused on developing more effective science-based treatments for mental health disorders by investigating sleep-wake patterns and circadian rhythms in young people with serious mental health disorders.
