WHO WE SUPPORT
Some examples of programs and projects that we have supported within our three areas of focus are:
Social Welfare
- Open Family - helping youth on the street
- Karyina House – providing a part-time case worker to support disadvantaged expectant mother’s
- St John’s Care - providing breakfast to children at Ainslie Primary School and a Fresh Fruit and Vegies Program for families.
- Stacia’s Soup Kitchen – providing food to people who are homeless
- Barnardos – supporting the Kids in Sport Program
- Belconnen Community Service – providing children’s school shoes, backpacks
- Brindabella Gardens Nursing Home – providing a palliative care unit.
- OzHarvest
- Koolamon Restoration
- A Canberra Housing Proposal – ending homelessness based on the common ground model
Health
- ANZAC Research Institute - Motor Neuron Disease
- Monaro Early Intervention Service
- Hartley Lifecare
- NewPIN Program at Uniting Care Kippax
- YMCA Raid Basketball Program
- Marymead – catalyst funding for the 'Home Program’ where councillors visit families at home
- Individuals with disabilities – medical supplies eg. wheelchair
- ACT Cancer Society - funding for their wig service
- L’Arche Genesaret - helping care for adults with severe mental handicap
Education, Employment & Life Skills
- Noah’s Ark - educational supplies for people with handicaps
- The Smith Family – scholarships for school-leavers
- Lions Youth Haven - assisting with education & employment skills
- Queanbeyan High School University Scholarships
- Canberra College Cares
- SPICE Program at Volunteering ACT
CASE STUDIES
To view case studies on who The Snow Foundations has supported click on a link below
The Open Family
‘The grant from the Snow Foundation enables Open Family to fund many material things for young people in dire need. The purchase of clothing for job interviews, for example, essential medications, emergency food and bus passes.’
Open Family Outreach Worker, Peter Schwarz
Open Family Australia is a non-profit organisation that supports young people at risk. It helps locate emergency or long-term stable accommodation and puts young people into contact with support agencies. It also provides advocacy services for the young and offers assistance in order to keep medical appointments.
Because of the support of the Snow Foundation, Open Family Street Outreach workers like Peter Schwarz are on the job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They aim to reconnect young people back into the community through education, health and community programs. By providing assistance at all hours of the day, Open Family ensures that these young people receive the assistance they need to get back on track.
‘The Open Family Outreach service is solely funded by donations, so any financial support is greatly appreciated and the money donated by the Snow Foundation goes into visible benefits by providing support to local people who need help,’ says Schwarz.
Friends of the Brain Injured
‘The assistance the Snow Foundation gives us means we are not alone. Someone cares. There needs to be more understanding like this.’
Libby Steeper, Friends of the Brain Injured
Libby Steeper knows first hand the challenges and frustrations of finding the right support for brain-injured children. Libby is the Secretary of ‘Friends of the Brain Injured’, a Canberra based charity. She is also grandmother to 4-year-old Fiona who was born with acute cerebral palsy.
An average week for Fiona requires a never ending round of intensives therapies—acupuncture, physiotherapy, yoga massage and manipulation. There are also visits to a naturopath, a speech therapist and some time with a playgroup that’s designed to develop Fiona’s physical and mental abilities.
The cost—both financial and in carers time—is enormous. Helping Fiona has been a full-time commitment for both parents and grandmother.
The Snow Foundation’s sponsorship of Fiona meets the costs of acupuncture and treatment by a conductive therapist. The conductive therapist is from Hungary; a country most advanced in the treatment of cerebral palsy. There is a shortage of conductive therapy specialists in Australia and the Friends of the Brain Injured were elated when the Therapist decided to make Canberra her home.
Because of the commitment of her parents, her grandmother and the support of the Snow Foundation, Fiona is now walking with the assistance of crutches, starting speech therapy and is about to enter school only two years behind her able bodied peers—a Herculian effort by her family and friends.
Home in Queanbeyan
‘the provision of long-term, supported accommodation for the chronically mentally ill who are presently unable to live with the basic dignity to which every human being is entitled is not simply a "good idea". It is an absolute must.’
The honourable Sir William Deane, 2007
‘Thanks to the generosity and compassion of the Snow Foundation, we can make Home in Queanbeyan happen sooner rather than later. We also believe that the Queanbeyan Community is providing national leadership by tackling head-on this national crisis that lies at our feet.’
Father Peter Day, April 2008
The Vision of Home in Queanbeyan (HOME) is to create a safe, supportive home for those who have been forgotten and abandoned by the community at large; a place where the homeless, mentally ill - and those incapable of living independently - can live with the dignity and love they deserve.
The Home in Queanbeyan (HOME) will be a residential home, not institutional that will be purpose built to provide 24 hour care and accommodation to 20 people with chronic mental illness who are without proper shelter, care, love and support; or may be in need of short term respite care. Residents will receive medium and long-term care within their own self-contained, one bedroom units (with 2 dedicated to respite care). There will also be communal areas for dining and recreation.
HOME hopes to inspire others to do the same and it is the beginning of a cultural shift in which communities lead the way in taking responsibility for citizens who are extremely vulnerable, isolated, and often homeless.
When HOME is established, there will also be a need for many willing helpers to ensure that the commitment of the Queanbeyan community can be maintained over many years - this is not a short-term dream.
For more information: www.homeinqueanbeyan.org
The Snow Foundation · 2 Brindabella Circuit · Brindabella Business Park · ACT 2609
Telephone 02 6175 3333 · Facsimile 02 6275 2207 · Email: enquiries@snowfoundation.org.au