The atmosphere inside Magpies Waitara was electric as local business leaders, community advocates, and generous donors gathered for the highly anticipated Community Pitch event on Tuesday 25th August.
With ten grassroots organisations each given just three minutes to share their mission and ignite the room, the energy was a testament to the North Shore’s incredible spirit of giving.
Once again The Post attended and took part as a pitch partner.
In Short
- The recent Community Pitch event at Magpies Waitara successfully raised $87,900 to support ten local grassroots organisations.
- Streetwork Australia received the highest individual grant of $11,650 to bolster their youth mentoring programs for 11 to 18-year-olds across Sydney's north and west.
- Essential funding was distributed across diverse community sectors, directly empowering groups such as The Village Chef, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter, and the Killara Rural Fire Brigade.
Thanks to the incredible network of Pitch Partners, the final tallies are in.
It was a wonderful show of community in action and to quote Madeleine Steel, CEO of EPIC, it truly was “a room full of kindness”.
A remarkable $87,900 was raised and distributed among the ten participating groups to fuel their vital work across the region.
Here is how the funding was allocated across the ten community champions:
- Streetwork Australia ($11,650): Receiving the night’s largest individual share, these funds will bolster their work mentoring and supporting vulnerable youth aged 11 to 18 across Sydney’s north and west.
- The Village Chef ($10,550): Delivered by Meals on Wheels, this initiative will expand its reach bringing home-style food and vital human connection to combat isolation among older residents.
- Kate’s Place ($9,650): Funding will go directly toward establishing this dedicated drop-in haven for women and children in Hornsby needing emergency support and practical assistance.
- Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter ($8,750): Crucial funding to continue offering crisis accommodation and supportive pathways for women escaping domestic violence and homelessness.
- Jacaranda Lodge ($8,750): Dedicated to cancer support in Wahroonga, these funds will help keep their free wellbeing programs, support groups, and counseling accessible without referrals.
- EPIC ($8,600): Empowering Parents in Crisis will use their funds to expand peer-led support networks for carers navigating youth mental health challenges.
- Bushlink ($8,450): Supporting 17+ years of environmental action, this grant helps maintain real, paid bush regeneration employment for adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney ($7,500): Sustaining their 24/7 crisis support line (13 11 14) and local mental health intervention programs.
- St Edmund’s College ($7,000): Assisting Wahroonga’s specialist school in delivering tailored educational opportunities for over 110 students with intellectual disabilities.
- Killara Rural Fire Brigade ($7,000): Directly equipping the all-volunteer emergency service to continue their year-round fire mitigation, search and rescue, and community protection.
From emergency services and youth intervention to disability support and crisis accommodation, every dollar pledged directly empowers these local heroes to continue transforming lives every day.