NINE Sutherland Shire clubs donated more than $328,000 to 39 community groups under the annual ClubGRANTS program.
The grants will fund a variety of services in this area that support struggling families, the homeless, pensioners, veterans' welfare, the elderly and the socially isolated.
Under the ClubGRANTS program, registered clubs with annual gaming machine revenue exceeding $1 million distribute 1.85 per cent of this revenue to specific community development and support projects that help the disadvantaged.
Since its inception in 1998, the ClubGRANTS scheme has delivered almost $1 billion in funding to communities.
The ClubGRANTs program in this area is administered by Sutherland Shire Council. There were 107 applications for grants this year. The 39 community groups that will receive grants this year will provide 49 community programs.
Clubs supporting this year's program are Tradies, Club Central Menai, Sutherland United Services Club, Club Engadine, Sharkies, Cronulla RSL, Engadine Bowling and Recreation Club, Club Cronulla and Club Heathcote.
The grants were presented by Sutherland Shire deputy mayor Tom Croucher at Cronulla RSL on August 20.
Community groups to benefit this year include Jannali Neighbourhood Aid ($2700), the John Franklin Christmas Lunch for the socially isolated ($8000), Shire Reach Emergency Relief ($3000), Rainbow Club Australia Taren Point ($14,600), which provides swimming lessons for children with a disability, and Rainbow Club Sutherland ($2000).
Shire Reach president John Soliman said the grant would improve the lives of homeless struggling families, pensioners and the elderly in the shire.
Chief executive of community organisation 3Bridges, Rosemary Bishop, said the grant would fund a case worker to assist families and individuals with complex needs including counselling, education, legal aid, information and support so they could remain independent and active in the community.
