Icon Water General Manager Customer Engagement Davina McCormick presenting a Community Support Program cheque to Kids in Care ACT last year. Photo: Supplied.
Icon Water has opened applications for community groups, not-for-profits and sporting teams from Canberra and the surrounding region for funding to support the cultural and social development of the area.
Icon Water’s Community Support Program has three sponsorship categories: the community sector, community inclusion and the affiliated industry sector.
“Our Community Support Program really focuses on supporting local grassroots, community, not-for-profit, and charitable organisations,” said Icon Water General Manager Customer Engagement Davina McCormick.
“These organisations must be based in the ACT or the surrounding region as we’re committed to supporting our community, and we want to work with organisations that are also committed to providing essential services to, and improving the lives of, Canberrans.”
Icon Water’s maintenance team has enthusiastically participated in the annual Rise Above Cancer Convoy, which has been a recipient of a Community Support Program grant for several years. The annual Convoy raises around two-thirds of the funding needed to support cancer patients across the region.
Ms McCormick said the Rise Above Cancer Convoy applied for a support grant to assist families in the region struggling with cancer and facing associated financial difficulties.
“We’ve been supporting the Rise Above Cancer Convoy for five years now, and it’s a cause that’s close to our heart. Not only do we provide funding through our Community Support Program, but our team also has internal fundraising events throughout the year for this and many different causes, and participate in the convoy, with every cent going towards supporting families in our region that are struggling with cancer,” said Ms McCormick.
“Our support contributes to assisting with those everyday costs such as food and petrol, electricity accounts, medication, all those costs that can start to add up when a family member is undergoing treatment for cancer.
“The Icon Water team are already preparing the trucks for this year’s convoy on 14 March.”
Icon Water’s Community Support Program has been assisting community groups for over 20 years, and in the coming year will provide approximately $400,000 to applicants. Some of the previous recipients include Lifeline Canberra, Kids in Care ACT, Menslink, Rise Above Cancer Convoy, community sporting clubs, educational and cultural initiatives, and local community groups.
“This year, we have created 10 packages specifically for sporting clubs, with each package providing $3,000, which clubs may use for uniforms or other essential needs along with a sports drink bottle pack for teams,” said Ms McCormick.
“We understand that these last 12 months have been particularly difficult for many families impacted by the pandemic,” she said, “and this support for community sporting clubs will assist in reducing the financial burden of uniforms and memberships that can prevent both children and adults from participating in team sports that provide physical activity and social inclusion.”
While there are no specific limits as to the amount of funding an organisation or group can request, Icon Water has specific assessment criteria that must be met, including local benefit, community interest, and alignment with Icon Water’s core values of safety, excellence, and openness.
“It’s really important that the organisations we support not only provide a benefit to the Canberra community, but that they also align with Icon Water’s values and don’t negatively impact the environment or the community,” said Ms McCormick.
Applications will be open until 30 April 2021 and assessed in May. Successful grant recipients will begin sponsorship in July 2021.
Further information is available on the Icon Water website.
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