Presenting your 2020 Westfield Local Heroes

We are excited to announce your three 2020 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Carousel.

These inspiring local leaders were nominated and voted for by the community and will now be awarded a $10,000 grant for each of their affiliated organisations to help their important work to grow.

Westfield Local Heroes is a community recognition and grants program, connecting and enriching local communities. Launched in 2018, the program spans our 42 trade areas across Australia and New Zealand. In 2020, we are awarding $1.26 million to 126 local organisations.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here.

Your three Westfield Carousel Local Heroes are:

Jayde Seed

Rebound WA Inc
Selfless. Committed. Determined

Jayde Seed is passionate about giving people with disabilities the chance to keep fit and achieve their full potential, just as he has. Jayde was left with quadriplegia after a football accident but participating in wheelchair rugby helped through the dark times. For 15 years, he has been proudly volunteering for Rebound WA's wheelchair rugby program to raise awareness of the life-changing sport and is now the team captain and coach. He is a regular visitor to people in hospital after suffering a traumatic injury. "Providing hope and support to others who have suffered a traumatic injury like myself is invaluable to their recovery," he says.

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Jessica (Jess) Pianta

HeartKids
Selfless. Courageous. Compassionate

Jess Pianta has her hands full juggling work, family life and caring for a child with congenital heart disease. Still she finds time to help other families in the same position. Jess set a up a playgroup exclusively for children with congenital heart disease (CHD), who risk becoming seriously ill if they are exposed to bugs that healthy kids at regular playgroups brush off. “Having their own specific playgroup gives parents of heart kids the ability to share their experiences and support each other while knowing their children are safe from common illnesses,” Jess says.

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Lenny Jacoby

The Essentials Collective
Selfless. Passionate. Hard-working

Lenny Jacoby helps people who are homeless or fleeing domestic violence feel more valued by providing them with basics such as a toothbrush, shampoo, socks and underwear. So far, her not-for-profit The Essentials Collective has provided nearly 200,000 essential items to vulnerable people in Perth. Most vulnerable people want to look good, to have hygiene and be proud of who they are,” Lenny says. “How can they do that without the basic things in life?”

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