Your date to make a difference — by supporting a local young person achieve their education aspirations.
As Greater Shepparton Foundation’s annual End Of Financial Year Appeal kicks off, June is your date to make a difference!
Each year, via our EOFY Appeal, we raise funds to support areas of need in our community. This year, all tax-deductible donations made to the appeal will contribute to our Lift Off Education Scholarships.
Lift Off, now in its 10th year, has supported 132 local students in post-secondary education and pathway courses by helping to overcome financial and other barriers to their education aspirations and to achieve their full potential.
“The Lift Off scholarship program has been a huge help during my first three years of university. The program supported me financially for the hidden but expected costs of going to university, which include travel, equipment and accommodation. Behind it all, there has been such a bright and caring team who have made my time at university much less stressful and who have supported me in each step of the way.” — Vicki Nikolovski, past Lift Off scholarship recipient.
The scholarships were established in 2014 in response to the increasing number of our young people not being able to afford the transition from secondary education to post-secondary education. A study has shown that young people from non-metropolitan regions in Victoria, such as Shepparton, defer university studies at twice the rate of their metropolitan counterparts, and currently, only half of our young people finish secondary school, and a quarter go on to tertiary education.
In response, the foundation partnered with the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project to tackle barriers to further education. The scholarship is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and over the years, the program has partnered with more than 40 businesses and philanthropic partners to support students.
Lift Off scholarships are awarded to young people aged 16 to 25 years for approved higher education courses, including diplomas and bachelor programs, and range from $2000 for one year and up to $10,000 over three years.
More information regarding Lift Off Education Scholarships can be found on the ‘Scholarships’ page on the GSF website — go to www.greatershepparton.foundation
All funds that you donate via the EOFY Appeal will be distributed via 2025 scholarships, for which applications open in October this year.
A tax-deductible donation can be made via our ‘Shout For Good’ page — go to www.shoutforgood/fundraisers/liftoffscholarships
A fundraising dinner for our Lift Off Education Scholarships will be held on Tuesday, July 16. Tickets will be on sale soon. In the meantime, please save the date and follow us on Facebook for details.
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer
