2009 Commemorative Grants Program

On 18 November 2008 The Myer Foundation and the Sidney Myer Fund together announced the 2009 Commemorative Grants Program, marking the 75th anniversary of the Sidney Myer Fund and 50th anniversary of The Myer Foundation.

The 2009 Commemorative Grants Program will give $28 million over five years to 13 major projects and will support 49 organisations. Individual Myer Family members have contributed a further $8 million, bringing the total commitment from Myer Family philanthropy to $36 million. The range of projects is exciting and diverse, and represents many contemporary issues facing Australian society including affordable housing, climate change and the effects of prolonged drought in regional Victoria. All of the projects accord with the Myer Family’s traditional History plus imagination equals the future philanthropic foci, including health, education, science, environment, the arts and Australia’s engagement with the Asian region.

What is common through all of the projects is a commitment to making an enduring and positive impact on society. Each grant has been given to a deserving recipient organisation. Our grants represent a partnership - we simply cannot be an effective grant-maker without good recipient organisations. Over the years, we have been privileged to forge strong and enduring relationships with many organisations that work for the benefit of our community.

We are proud of each of the 13 projects detailed in this report which make up the 2009 Commemorative Grants Program. We look forward to the contribution that each of them will make to a better Australia.