Tomorrow Fund Celebrates Five Years of Funding Changemakers

The philanthropic arm of one of Australia’s largest finance companies is celebrating its five year anniversary of awarding $1 million in funding grants to people doing extraordinary things in their local community.

The AMP Foundation’s annual awards program, the Tomorrow Fund, awarded 43 changemakers a share of the million dollars, varying from $5000, to $83,000 depending on the project,  for their work in science, social innovation and sport.

In the five years the award has been running, it’s received thousands of applications from people across all areas of Australia, and has given out $5 million in funding to kickstart and boost social entrepreneurs.

Helen Liondos, head of AMP foundation, said the diversity of this year’s winners demonstrated the array of talent that existed in the community.

“This year’s recipients are truly inspiring and many have been motivated by very personal experiences to help others,” Liondos said.

She said this award demonstrated how many people were looking to do great things in the community, but had difficulty accessing funding that was flexible for their needs.

“Funds can be used for a range of things to help people achieve their goal, whether it’s a vital piece of equipment, training or travel,” she said.

2017 recipient, Lana Borg, who founded not for profit Mama Lana’s Community Foundation to feed the homeless in western Sydney, said the award was pivotal in helping the foundation extend its impact.

“It’s helped us to move into our own premises in Penrith so now we can serve meals to people doing it tough with dignity and respect, rather than in a carpark,” Borg said.

“This grant was validation that, although Mama Lana’s is a small organisation, it plays a crucial role in our community.”

A full list of the 2018 winners can be found here.