Annual Report 2016-2017
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Annual Report 2016-2017 Sisters of Charity Foundation Level 7 / 35 Grafton Street BONDI JUNCTION NSW 2022 T: (02) 9367 1211 E: [email protected] WEB: www.sistersofcharityfoundation.com.au WELCOME CONTENTS The Sisters of Charity Foundation is About the Sisters of Charity Foundation ...............3 committed to responding creatively to the The History of the Sisters of Charity Foundation . 3 current and emerging needs of the poor and Message from our Patron . 4 disadvantaged. Often, through no fault of their Message from the Trustees . 5 own, people find they are unable to take care Chairman’s Report . 6 of themselves or their loved ones. CEO’s Report .....................................7 They need a helping hand through these Scholarship Program . 8 difficult times. Asylum Seekers Housing Project . 9 Community Grant Programs . 10 We strive to offer that assistance by investing Bequest Program . 12 in projects that give people the support and Christmas Card Design Competition.................12 skills they need to turn their life around. Organisations Receiving Grant Funding . 13 We invite you to help us offer relief and hope Board of Directors................................15 to those who need it most. 2 Sisters of Charity Foundation Annual Report 2016-2017 ABOUT THE SISTERS OF THE HISTORY OF CHARITY FOUNDATION THE SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION The Sisters of Charity of Australia announced the establishment of the Moved by the plight of the needy in Ireland, beginnings the Sisters of Charity have Foundation in these words: in 1815 Mary Aikenhead founded the Sisters continued to answer the call to ministry of Charity to serve the poor. A request was in hospitals, schools, prisons and social sent from Australia to Mary Aikenhead to welfare activities in the community. send some Sisters to the most neglected In order to promote in perpetuity the “The Sisters of Charity Foundation has been established by portion of the Catholic world. Mary mission of the Australian Sisters of Aikenhead responded by appointing five the Congregation to promote in perpetuity the mission of Charity, specifically to the service of volunteer Sisters to Australia. the Sisters of Charity, especially the service of the poor”. the poor, the Congregation Leader and In 1838 these heroic and courageous Council established the Sisters of Charity women began their ministry in Australia by Foundation in 2000 assisting the convict women in the Female We are also committed to breaking the The broad aim and purpose is to: Factory at Parramatta. From these humble cycle of poverty by empowering committed • Assist in the creation and nurturing of young people to change their lives through ministries identified with the Sisters of education. Charity, particularly those that impact on the poor and under-served. 2012 marked the beginning of the Sisters of Charity Foundation Tertiary Scholarship • Make grants for public charitable Program. The program offers financial purposes that promote the mission and support for young people, who are the philosophy of the Sisters of Charity. financially disadvantaged and have lived in We strive to achieve these objectives by out-of-home care, to study at university. providing grants to community based Our scholarship program aims to give organisations within Australia, that work motivated young people a chance to build to reduce the effects of poverty and social a fulfilling career and positively influence isolation in urban and rural areas. the lives of those around them and the communities in which they live. We provide support and financial assistance to organisations that offer specialised The Sisters of Charity Foundation is services to groups and individuals across committed to growing the reach of our all areas of need including asylum seekers Community Grants Program and the and refugees, Indigenous Australians, number of Tertiary Scholarships in an effort disadvantaged youth, the disabled and to help those in need. The focus of each mentally ill, prison affected, women and program we support will be different but the children escaping domestic violence, the goal remains the same: to empower people, homeless, the drug and alcohol affected families and communities to overcome and the long-term unemployed. disadvantage and achieve a better quality of life Restoring Hope, Building Dignity 3 MESSAGE FROM OUR PATRON The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides Over the coming year, the Foundation is invaluable support to those who are doing developing a major new project dedicated it tough and need a helping hand through to providing meaningful post-school difficult times, continuing a tradition of care, employment options for people with compassion and dedication that the Sisters profound disabilities. Participating in of Charity of Australia have delivered in our meaningful employment is a right many country since 1838. of us take for granted, but which, sadly, has not been an option for many people The gift of education is the greatest gift of living with disability. all, enabling young people to reach their full potential. Education not only changes As Patron, I extend the thanks of the the lives of individual students, it enriches community of New South Wales. In all us as a nation, through the skills and of these initiatives, the Sisters of Charity understanding our graduates bring to local Foundation is developing innovative and communities. practical solutions to the disadvantage and social isolation experienced by many in our In this respect, I am particularly delighted community that the Macquarie Group has come on His Excellency board as a major contributor to the Sisters General The Honourable of Charity Foundation Tertiary Scholarship David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Program which will enable the creation Governor of New South Wales. of another four scholarships at Western Sydney University for young people who have overcome profound disadvantage. The Foundation’s broad reach is also achieved through the Community Grant Program, funding a wide range of local services that have developed solutions to local problems and driving a creative partnership model of assistance across many areas of disadvantage which enables the Foundation to make a real difference. 4 Sisters of Charity Foundation Annual Report 2016-2017 MESSAGE FROM THE TRUSTEES On behalf of the Sisters of Charity of The greatest asset we have is the Sisters And we are also grateful for the support Australia I would like to say that we are very themselves who hold the stories that of the benefactors and friends of the encouraged by the work of the Foundation continue to shape our identity and Foundation for the generous gifts that over the past year and the help it has been wellbeing. Stories are carriers of our enable the Foundation to restore hope to able to offer so many people in so many memories. We can become focused on those who experience the harshness of life. different ways. We value each person’s numbers when we reflect on the death We continue to be blessed by all who contribution and especially our Volunteers of so many Sisters of Charity these past minister with us carrying the mission and and Benefactors. 18 months. However, one of the more values of Mary Aikenhead into our present substantial narratives about religious Our Foundress, Mary Aikenhead in and our future. May love continue to life that is passing is the diminishment beginning the Congregation of the Sisters of overwhelm us and motivate us in all that narrative and a narrative that seems to be Charity wanted the Congregation to become we do emerging in its place is what is called a ‘extensively useful’ in serving the poor and narrative of deepening communion. To focus those in need. on diminishment can diminish all of us. The Foundation is meeting that purpose today. The communion narrative is an expanding one which makes space for the eruption of The development of the Community Grants spiritual energy throughout our world. Sr Clare Nolan rsc Program, the expansion of the Sisters of Congregational Leader Charity Foundation Tertiary Scholarship The Sisters of Charity of Australia are Program and the wonderful support being committed to ensuring the Foundation offered to asylum seekers at Providence is well placed to broaden its reach in the House, gives the Congregation confidence community and alleviate suffering. To that that the Foundation can continue the end we recently gifted a property owned by social justice imperative of the Gospel – to the Congregation to the Foundation so they proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to could build on the work they do through captives, sight to the blind, freedom to those Providence House and their partnership who are oppressed. (Luke 4). with the Asylum Seekers Centre. I would like to offer thanks to our Sisters for enabling the use of this wonderful resource to provide safe and secure housing to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Restoring Hope, Building Dignity 5 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT For most Australians life is secure and stable. The service offers twelve rehab beds for demonstrated as Directors. There is access to good education and a men aged 18 years to 60 years in a drug free Joining the Board are Sr Margaret Valentine supportive family. There is an expectation residential community. Funding support rsc, who most recently served as the Parish that life will follow a predictable pattern and given by the Sisters of Charity Foundation Pastoral Coordinator of the Myall Coast if there are any challenges we will have the has enabled Destiny Transformations to Parish and Mr Greg Khoury who has a strong resources to meet them. But this is not true provide clients with clothing and assistance business expertise and a demonstrated for all. Often, through no fault of their own, transitioning to employment so they can live commitment to the not-for-profit, people fall through the cracks and endure independently in the community.