We are excited to announce Donna Lee Stolzenberg from National Homeless Collective as your 2023 Westfield Local Hero for Airport West!

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Donna and National Homeless Collective to continue to grow their impact in the local community

The 2023 Westfield Local Heroes program will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $1.26 million to support local communities.

For further information or to discover the Westfield Local Heroes at other Westfield centres, visit the Westfield Local Heroes website.

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Your 2023 Westfield Airport West Local Hero is:

Donna Lee Stolzenberg

National Homeless Collective

Generous. Kind. Supportive.

Kind-hearted Donna Lee Stolzenberg is the founder of National Homeless Collective and the driving force behind The School Project, which takes pressure off parents and helps ensure continuity of education.

Donna is a former foster parent and knows how traumatic it can be for a child to stand out because they don’t have the correct equipment. Her youngest child has complex disabilities, so she is unable to continue fostering other children. The School Project is her way of filling that gap and has supported more than 600 local children over the past year.

Donna feels honoured to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “My eldest son helped me start this charity, and he tragically passed away recently. He would be so proud.”

National Homeless Collective will use its funds to buy 200 sleeping bags and school packs for 100 children.

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We'd like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5K grant for the organisation they represent...

Kate Lambert from The Sisterhood Project

Former paediatric intensive care nurse Kate Lambert is saving lives by helping to provide first aid training to thousands of mothers in rural and marginalised communities. Kate is a board member of the Sisterhood Project, which works with local organisations to teach women to manage unexpected health concerns and know how to seek assistance.

Bernadette Thatcher from Brimbank Unit - Victoria State Emergency Service

Bernadette (Bernie) Thatcher is the volunteer Unit Controller of the VICSES Brimbank Unit, where she leads a team of 35. Bernie loves wielding a chainsaw, fixing roofs and comforting those affected by emergencies. She volunteers more than 1000 hours a year and responds to about four calls for help a week.

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If you need support, please phone Lifeline: 13 11 14

Recognising all our 2023 nominees

View all of the Westfield Airport West nominees and their organisation