Philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson have linked with the Buderim Foundation to oversee a charitable trust that will support those who need a helping hand.
The Buderim Foundation Thompson Fund will provide grants to support those experiencing financial distress.
Organisations and groups that provide services for those unable to achieve a modest standard of living, due to challenges of homelessness or domestic violence, are invited to
assess their eligibility for the 2021 grants program from May 1.
Buderim Foundation Chair Dr Russell Stitz said the Buderim Foundation already had a community investment fund of more than $2 million, which was used to support the people who lived in the 4556 postcode area.
He said grants were also provided to not-for-profit organisations outside this postcode area, provided there was a benefit to those who live in the local community.
Since its inception in 2004, grants to the value of almost $637,000 had been distributed to 83 local community groups.
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Dr Stitz said while the Thompson Trust would remain a separate fund, “The Foundation will operate The Buderim Foundation Thompson Fund as it does the Foundation’s other investments”.
“That is, the investment fund will be preserved in perpetuity with only the revenue being distributed each year. This new Fund will add over $5 million to the Foundation’s investments and is designed specifically to look after those in financial need.”
Roy and Nola are passionate about supporting charitable initiatives on the Sunshine Coast and a clear example of this is their funding of the Mind & Neuroscience – Thompson Institute at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
This is a world-class hub for research, teaching and clinical services for Australia’s most
pressing mental health issues. The Thompsons are also funding the Institute’s new PTSD building.
Roy Thompson said they were entrusting the Thompson Trust to the Buderim Foundation because of the Foundation’s expertise in managing their existing funds and grants programs.
“The Buderim Foundation knows what they are doing and do it very well.”
Mr Thompson said he and Nola believed strongly that people who could, should give what they could.
He said he looked forward to seeing the revenue earned by the Thompson Fund to benefit those in need on the Sunshine Coast.
For more information, or to lodge an expression of interest for a grant from the Buderim Foundation Thompson Fund, visit www.buderimfoundation.org.au
