The Foothills Foundation is proud to be improving the lives of disadvantaged people in our community. We raise funds through annual events and individual and business memberships which we then use to award grants to local people and community groups in need.
What We Do
Back in 1976, a group of local business people met for lunch at the Dorset Gardens Hotel in Croydon and decided that together they would give back to those in need in the local community which had supported their businesses for so many years.
From that lunch, the Footmen Club was born and that has evolved into the Foothills Foundation and Charitable Trust which operates today.
Throughout that time, volunteers from local businesses and the community have worked tirelessly to raise funds to support local people in necessitous circumstances and community service programs that support them.
Funds are raised through high quality events, donations, bequests and our generous sponsors.
Each year, grants amounting in aggregate to $20,000 to $25,000 are made to individuals in necessitous circumstances for specific purposes and community services for specific program or support needs. There is a robust grants assessment process to ensure that funds disbursed are for valid purposes in line with our guidelines and are applied accordingly.
Stepping up support
Over the last 12 months, The Foothills Foundation has responded to people in our community, in need of help, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last few months, we have given out nearly $20,000 in grants to local community services, providing the bare essentials to those in need. We look forward to holding this years’ fundraising events, to help us meet those continuing support needs. See the video for the story.
News & Stories
7 ways to help us help our community
A grants update – May 2019
Since the beginning of 2019, the Foothills Foundation has granted or allocated approximately $7,000 to people or groups in need in the Maroondah and Yarra Ranges area as follows:. Through our relationship with Eastern Access Community Health (EACH), we provided: a grant of $730 to provide bannister and grab rails for a lady with reduced mobility due to Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and suffering from anxiety and depression and a grant of $470 for the gap payment for a three function hi lo hospital bed for an elderly lady with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and living alone in an OOH Unit. At the request of ANCHOR, we partnered with them and the IOOB to help a local family in crisis. Each of us contributed a third ($3,540) of six months’ rent for a family in which the mother is suffering with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. While she has been undergoing bone marrow treatment, her husband has taken leave of absence from work without pay to look after their three children and they needed a hand to meet rental commitments. The Foundation helped Ringwood Biala with the purchase of new carpet squares ($850) for their respite facilities. The respite programme at Ringwood […]
Tour de France Dinner on again
Melbourne’s best Tour de France Preview Dinner is on again at the Karralyka Centre in Mines Road, Ringwood East on Monday 24 June 2019. Once again, SBS expert commentator Matt Keenan is back to host the night, this time with a couple of very special guests: Baden Cooke who snatched the 2003 Tour de France green jacket from another Australian, Robbie McEwan, and Allan Iacuone, national road champion in 1994 and years later the first Australian Cyclocross champion. Always a great night – book at https://www.foothills.org.au/events/ Foothills Foundation 2019 Tour de France Dinner Flyer
High Tea a hit
On the beautiful Autumn afternoon of Sunday, 19 May 2019, we were treated to a spectacular high tea event, “An Afternoon with Jo Stanley”, at the Karralyka Centre in Ringwood East. Jo Stanley was MC for the day, and, for someone who professes not to do stand up comedy anymore, it took her only a few minutes to have the audience in stitches about “how she got noticed”. Jo was absolutely fantastic in the way that she entertained and interviewed our other guests with genuine warmth, humour and sensitivity. Netball legend, Bianca Chatfield was also terrific, giving us a mix of the highs and lows of her life as an international sportswoman and as a contestant on The Block. The interplay between Bianca and Jo was fun to watch. Our designated charity for a grant from raffle proceeds was Spectrum Journeys whose mission is “Equipping and empowering Carers and Educators as they support children on the Autism Spectrum to flourish”. CEO and Founder, Kate Johnson, told a compelling story about her journey with her child on the autism spectrum, how that led to her establishing Spectrum Journeys and how they are helping people to support children on the spectrum by […]
Put these dates in your calendar
Thank you to Bendigo Bank Mooroolbark
Bendigo Bank Mooroolbark has been a great supporter of the Foundation for many years now. We are delighted to announce that Rowan Alexander and the Board of Bendigo Bank Mooroolbark have not only renewed their generous support as our premium sponsor for 2019 – they have upped it to support our new events as well. We value their participation in all of our fund raising events visibly showing their support for the work that we do at the Foothills Foundation. In the course of the work that we do, we also encounter numerous other local charities and community services that they support like The Rice Meal and Spectrum Journeys. Bendigo Bank Mooroolbark is a fantastic community citizen. Thank you for making such a positive difference to us and in our community. Help them to continue to make a difference by supporting them.
Once Off Donation
Every donation makes a difference to someone in need, in our community.
What We Do
We raise funds ethically through quality events, sponsorship, donations and bequests
The events include:
* In May, we “Celebrate women leading in our community” at a special High Tea at the Karralyka Centre
* In June, we are back at Karralyka for our “Le Tour Dinner” for all cycling and Tour de France enthusiasts.
* In September, it is our “AFL Finals Lunch” again at the Karralyka Centre
* In November, it is “The Foothills Foundation Annual Charity Golf Day” which has been going for over 40 years and is now at Yering Meadows.
Improving the lives of those finding themselves in difficult circumstances
Attend Events
Our events provide people with a fun, social experience and professional presenters who are experts and tell a good story.
Apply For Grant
Grants are given to people in necessitous circumstances in our community or to organizations that support people in need.
Make a Donation
With once off and monthly options, everyone who makes a donation, makes a difference to someone in need, in our community.
Membership
We offer an affordable monthly membership
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
Fill out the form below with your inquiries or feedback. Your generosity fuels our mission. Together, we make a difference.