Aurora’s $100K funding bonanza

The Aurora Group today announced $100,000 in grants for a number of important NSW GLBT community charities as it celebrates its 10th birthday.

The larger-than-usual once-off grants was made possible thanks to a number of successful Aurora events, as well as continued support of donors.

Aurora chair David Moutou thanked Aurora’s patrons, donors and partners for their support over the past decade, and this year, during Aurora’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

“The funding announced today will be dispersed to a variety of valuable GLBT community charities and projects” Moutou said.

“By supporting our events and donating to Aurora through once-off donations and our regular giving program, Aurora supporters have allowed us to invest in a strong, supportive and compassionate GLBT community for the decades ahead.

“All You Need is Love, the 10th anniversary Aurora Dinner, was our fourth consecutive annual dinner to sell out, due to generous community support and enthusiasm for our events and our cause.

“We chose love as the theme to mark our 10th anniversary, and Aurora sincerely loves being part of a community that supports and looks after each other.”

Aurora deputy chair Kate Connors said the grants included $20,000 each for GLBT youth service Twenty10 and the Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service.

“Aurora is also delighted to fund two special projects with once-off grants of $10,000 each” Connors said.

“The first of these will go to Twenty10 for the expansion of their successful Here and Now training program for communities in regional NSW.

“The second project grant will go to ACON, for the development of their LOVE (Living Older, Visibly & Empowered) Project, addressing the important issue of ageing in the GLBT community”

Connors said a further $40,000 was being made available as part of Aurora’s annual small grants scheme.

“Applications are now open for grants of up to $5000 each for NSW GLBT community projects,” she said.

Past recipients have included various regional youth services, The Gender Centre, the Lesbian & Gay Anti Violence Project, Queer Screen, Learn to Include, ACON’s Lesbian Health Project and Come Out Australia.

info: Eligible charities can find further details of the small grants at Aurora’s website – www.auroragroup.com.au . Applications close 26 November 2010.