Nearly $40,000 in funding through Tomorrow Today’s Annual Grants will help twelve local organisations deliver projects that strengthen community connections, support learning opportunities and create lasting benefits for the Benalla community.
Successful applicants gathered at Tomorrow Today on Thursday 4 June alongside staff, board members, local Councillors and donors to receive their grants and celebrate the positive impact these projects will have across the community.
Tomorrow Today Board Chair, Louise Pearce, said the Annual Grants program is one of the most rewarding aspects of the organisation’s work.
“As Benalla’s Community Foundation, awarding these grants is one of the highlights of our year. Today is the reason why we make such an effort in raising money for our Community Fund.
“The Community Fund is a resource that we steward for the community, and we invest this and use the income from the Fund to make these grants. Since 2003 we have awarded more than $550,000 in grants to support local projects that promote education or community building.”
“I’d like to thank all our donors, we are so grateful for their generosity. The money donated to the Community Fund means that we can make these annual grants year after year.”
Tomorrow Today Grants Committee Chair, Larissa Montgomery, praised the successful applicants; “Congratulations to all our grant recipients for the time and effort they’ve put in to developing their ideas and making their grant applications. We’re looking forward to seeing these wonderful projects take shape throughout 2026.”
Leeane Bullard, Waminda Community House manager, accepted the grant for the ‘Jammin’ After School Program’. “We’re really appreciative of all the support that Tomorrow Today has given us over the last two decades. Waminda Community House is located in Benalla West. In the surrounding four or five blocks the social disadvantage there is equal to the fourth most disadvantaged community in Australia. But the people are connected through spirit, through the neighbourhood and we bring them together at Waminda for some learning and creative opportunities and certainly the social and connectedness.
“Music and creative arts are really beneficial to the children in our community and Jammin’ After School will provide them with the opportunity to participate in drumming, dance and music for the next two terms.”
Up to $5,000 for projects that meet the Foundation’s funding criteria is available to eligible groups. This year’s funded projects include:
- Waminda Community House – Jammin’ After School
This program will provide drumming and creative dance classes for primary and secondary aged children aiming to build confidence and relationships, facilitate learning, create community, health and wellbeing. The program will run in Terms 3 and 4. Funding will cover the costs of facilitators and materials.
- St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church – Little Lambs’ Playtime
Little Lambs Playtime is a new playgroup for families with preschool-aged children. The funds will be used to help create a welcoming space where parents, carers, and young children can build friendships and find support during the preschool years.
- Centre Against Violence (CAV) – Improving access and inclusion for victim survivors in Benalla
CAV provides outreach services in Benalla for people impacted by violence. The grant will be used to make the Benalla outreach room at Benalla Health more welcoming and comfortable and to update the therapeutic resources for local clients.
- North East Multicultural Association (NEMA) – Connecting Cultures – Celebrating Together
NEMA provides a range of services that support settlement, social connection, and
community participation for cultural and linguistically diverse residents in North-East Victoria. The grant will fund a multicultural family engagement event in partnership with Waminda Community House.
- Wangaratta District Specialist School, Benalla Campus – Sensory Garden
The grant will help to establish a sensory garden in the school grounds. Sensory experiences can assist children to regulate their behaviour, emotions and feelings better which helps them to better engage in education and classroom settings.
- Ride Avenue Preschool – ‘Let’s Pretend’: Supporting learning through role play
This grant will fund the purchase of durable, safe and developmentally appropriate resources to encourage collaborative play, problem solving and creativity.
- Benalla Migrant Camp – ‘Walk of Lights’
The grant will help to fund the ‘Walk of Lights’ event – a celebratory gathering for the whole community. Direct descendants of Benalla Migrant Camp families and members of the Benalla community will retrace the steps of former camp residents, acknowledging their ancestors, family and friends. Participants will walk with candles creating a ‘Walk of Lights’ and the event will culminate with a light painting display by artist Peter Solness.
- Benalla and District Preschool Partnership
Munro Avenue Preschool – Outdoor Physical activity equipment
This grant will fund the purchase of new high quality outdoor play equipment to enhance physical, social and cognitive development for children.
Bernard Briggs Kindergarten – Outdoor Play Wet Weather Gear
This grant will fund a class set of locally sourced, durable, waterproof overalls and raincoats in a range of sizes as well as storage equipment for the gear. This will allow all children to fully participate in the indoor-outdoor play program which supports essential skills including physical coordination, resilience and problem-solving while fostering healthy habits and mental wellbeing.
- Benalla Gymnastics Club – Drumming with ‘In the Groove’ at the Drill Hall
Two ‘In the Groove’ drumming sessions will be available for free for Benalla children and young people during the Term 2 and 3 school holidays. The program will give the participants a chance to try a new activity together and build new friendships.
- Benalla P-12 College Faithfull St Campus – Future makers social groups
The wellbeing team at Benalla P-12 College are supporting students to build a range of social groups across the campus. Each group will be unique and become a platform for developing communication, collaboration and confidence in an inclusive supportive social environment.
- Room at the Table – Studio Mentoring with Killer Pig Productions
Room at the Table is an inclusive group open to all ages and abilities which offers a range of non-sport, geek subculture activities. This grant will build on 2025’s Studio Training Project to extend the skills and confidence of participants in script writing, editing video, filming and lighting. Anyone who would like to support Tomorrow Today’s grants program can donate online at call 5762 1211 or visit the Foundation’s office at Shop 10, 66 Nunn Street.
Anyone who would like to support Tomorrow Today’s grants program can donate online, call 5762 1211 or visit the our office at Shop 10, 66 Nunn Street.