Published Tuesday, 19 April, 2005 at 12:00 AM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer & Sport
The Honourable Terry Mackenroth
State grants from casinos to support community groups in greater Brisbane region
Mr Mackenroth was speaking at a function in Brisbane to acknowledge the vital contributions the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund made to communities throughout southern Queensland.
He said the Fund was generated from a levy placed on the annual revenue of Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast and the Treasury Casino in Brisbane and distributed to non-profit organisations.
"The revenue is distributed quarterly to provide essential funding to our hard-working community and volunteer groups that do wonderful work in their local areas," Mr Mackenroth said.
"In the November and February funding rounds the Fund has divided up a total of over $2.9 Million in grants to more than 120 groups.
"Grants have been provided to organisations helping young people, older people and people with disabilities as well as to regional communities, health services, environmental and sporting organisations."
The Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund was established in 1987 and has since distributed more than $59 Million in grants.
Fund Chairman Sarina Russo said grants are awarded to diverse community groups all around southern Queensland.
"From Maryborough to the Gold Coast and Brisbane to Boulia, grants from the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund are making a real difference in local communities," Ms Russo said.
Ms Russo said the Fund's mission was to respond to client needs by allocating available resources in an equitable manner to maximise community benefits.
"This year grants have been provided for many purposes, including to purchase computers, upgrade community halls, construct counselling rooms and to provide essential transport and building amenities," she said.
Grants recipients in the Greater Brisbane area are:
* Working Against Violence Support Service Inc, Woodridge - $120,000 * ALARA Association Inc, Ipswich - $100,000 * Queensland Society for Crippled Children Inc, Corinda - $83,317 * Speak Out Limited, Brisbane City - $54,575 * Born Free Club Limited, Highgate Hill - $50,000 * Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre Inc, Kangaroo Point - $50,000 * Queensland Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association, Ipswich - $50,000 * Family and Kids - Care Foundation Inc, Kingston - $50,000 * Australian Lebanese Association of Queensland Inc, Tarragindi - $46,350 * Rural Fire Brigade, Samsonvale - $44,070 * Wests Juniors Australian Football Club Inc, Taringa - $40,613 * Isis - Centre for Womens Action on Eating Issues Inc, Yeronga - $31,696 * Lodge Youth Support Service Inc, Northgate - $29,300 * Young Parents Program Inc, Kedron - $28,933 * Albany Creek Crushers Junior Rugby League Football Club Inc - $27,500 * Returned and Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Pine Rivers District Sub-Branch Inc, Kallangur - $26,447 * Redland Softball Association Inc - $25,297 * Centenary Plains BMX Club Inc - $25,100 * Queensland Wattle League for the Disabled Inc, Woolloongabba - $24,713 * Australian Transgenderists Support Association of Queensland, Camp Hill - $22,554 * Centre Against Sexual Assault Inc, Logan Central - $20,082 * Ipswich Bowls Club Inc - $18,883 * Nunukul/Nugui Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation of Quanddamooka, Dunwich - $16,000 * Open Doors Youth Service Inc, Fortitude Valley - $15,384 * Queensland Tape Service for the Handicapped Inc, West End - $13,949 * Foundation for Independence Recreation and Social Training Inc, Eight Mile Plains - $13,455 * Ipswich Hospice Care Inc - $13,400 * Wild - Sexual Violence Prevention Association Inc, Wooloowin - $11,473 * Independent Youth Housing Group Limited, Nundah - $8,160 * Inala Elders Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation - $7,337 * Coochiemudlo Recreation Club Inc - $5,950 * Brisbane Multiple Birth Association - Westside Inc, Kenmore - $5,682 * Scorpions Soccer Club Inc, Salisbury - $4,579 * Redcliffe Opportunities for Peoples Enhancement Association Inc (R.O.P.E) - $2,691 * Young Men's Christian Association of Camira/Springfield Inc - $2,171 * Ipswich 60 and Better Program Inc - $1,818
Mr Mackenroth urged Queensland non-profit organisations who were interested in finding out more information on the Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund to phone (07) 3872 0815 or visit the fund's website: www.jccbf.org.au
Further enquiries: (07) 3224 6900