Presenting your 2020 Westfield Local Heroes

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

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 Fountain Gate Local Heroes are:

Josh Carell

Littlefoot and Company
Caring. Passionate. Giving

Josh Carell is using the power of art to help improve mental health. Five years ago, he founded Littlefoot and Company with his sister Eden, a qualified art therapist to provide free art therapy to the community. A range of events and workshops are on offer to young people and adults, including visual arts and spoken word and poetry workshops. "Making art in the company of others or sharing your art allows for social connection and a sense of being valued and can allow for healing and growth," Josh says.

Find out more >

Sally Beard

Backpacks 4 Vic Kids
_Passionate. Dedicated. Giving

Sally Beard and her team provides much-needed comfort and dignity for vulnerable children entering foster or emergency care. These children are often taken into care at a moment’s notice with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing. Sally was outraged when she heard many wait up to eight hours in soiled clothing or hospital clothing while waiting for a safe place to go. She founded the non-profit Backpacks 4 Vic Kids to provide these children with a backpack of essentials and comfort items. “We have now delivered over 7000 packs to displaced children state-wide,” she says.

Find out more >

Sukhjit Singh

Sikh Volunteers Australia
Dedicated. Committed. Humble

Sukhjit Singh was there to help when the worst bushfires in living memory ravaged Victoria. The dedicated volunteer spent 16 days at the Bairnsdale relief centre working with the Sikh Volunteers Australia free food van, offering three meals a day to evacuees. Sukhjit was up at 4.30am to start preparing breakfast and often worked late into the night. He volunteers at many community events. "I mostly do service in our free food van program," Sukhjit says. "We not only help people in need but break down barriers and help people come together to make a great multicultural Australia."

Find out more >

We congratulate all of our finalists and nominees and recognise the important contribution they make to the local community.

View all of the finalists, nominees and their organisations

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

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