Announced at Committee for Melbourne’s annual gala dinner, the Awards celebrate contributions to Melbourne that will leave a lasting legacy and are presented to an organisation and an individual each year.
The Governor of Victoria, the Hon Linda Dessau AC CVO, pictured with Foundation Chair Paul Bird (centre), and Mr Anthony Howard AM KC.
“The 2023 Melbourne Achiever Award presented to Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation not only recognises their long-standing history as they celebrate their centenary year, but also highlights their continuing work to support not-for-profits and charities throughout our city,” said Committee for Melbourne CEO Mark Melvin.
“The Foundation has stood with Melburnians through disasters, COVID, challenges such as homelessness and unemployment, and is now working to support a just climate transition.
“Over the past three years, the Foundation has provided almost $36 million in grants, $197 million since 1923, to not-for-profit organisations across Greater Melbourne working in areas such as community resilience, disaster preparedness and recovery, climate change action, sustainable jobs, homelessness, and affordable housing.
CEO Dr Catherine Brown OAM spoke on the event's topic of 'You're the Inspiration', sharing with guests the Foundation's Affordable Housing Challenge and the energy-efficient, centrally-located Preston site, which is under construction.
“The Foundation’s vision for Melbourne as an inclusive, innovative, climate-resilient city for all people is inspiring,” said Mr Melvin.
Accepting the Award on the night, Foundation Chair Paul Bird said, “It is a privilege to accept this award on behalf of everyone at Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.
“The Foundation was established by Lord Mayor Sir John Swanson in 1923 to raise public donations and fund metropolitan hospitals and charities; today the Foundation has grown to become the community foundation for Greater Melbourne and Australia’s largest independent community foundation.”
As the Foundation celebrates 100 years of impact, the Award is particularly special remarked CEO Dr Catherine Brown OAM, “The centenary year of the Foundation provides an extraordinary opportunity for us to celebrate and share the Foundation’s contribution to the health and wellbeing of Melbourne.
“Philanthropy is able to support seed funding to demonstrate new solutions to tough community challenges and to support forward-looking policy, research and systems change work on the issues we all care about.
“The Foundation is built upon the generosity of many donors over many years. And without the community’s support, we would not have made the impact we have. We stand ready to support the community now and in the future.”