Announcing your 2024 Westfield Local Hero

We are excited to announce Yusuf Khatree from Muslim Charitable Foundation as your 2024 Westfield Local Hero for Mt Gravatt.

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Yusuf Khatree at Muslim Charitable Foundation to continue to grow their impact in the local community.

The 2024 Westfield Local Heroes program will award 125 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $AUD1.24 million to support local communities.

Nominations for the 2025 Westfield Local Heroes program are open now. If you know someone who's making an impact, nominate them as a Westfield Local Hero - nominate here.

Your 2024 Westfield Mt Gravatt Local Hero is:

Yusuf Khatree

Muslim Charitable Foundation

Honest. Dependable. Sincere.

For the past 15 years, Yusuf Khatree has supported underprivileged members of our community. His not-for-profit organisation, the Muslim Charitable Foundation (MCF), provides emergency housing, food aid and financial assistance to anyone in need. Clients are usually referred to MCF by other organisations that do not have the capacity to help.

Under Yusuf's leadership, MCF assists roughly 40 people every month with rent, utility bills, medical expenses or emergency shelter. However, the current cost-of-living crisis has seen an increase in demand for support. In February 2024, MCF handled 56 cases, — its busiest month to date.

To reduce community food insecurity, MCF supplies 100 community food hampers monthly and 25 hampers to the Red Cross Australia. MCF is run entirely by volunteers, ensuring all donations go directly to helping others.

To ensure maximum impact, Yusuf personally visits those unable to attend the office. "I have a restless heart," he says. "It pains me to see suffering. The worry of debt has lots of other consequences. Removing that worry leads to a better, less stressful family life and happier home."

Yusuf's efforts and commitment have positively impacted the lives of many.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities. The finalist with the most community votes is the Westfield Mt Gravatt Local Hero for 2024, receiving a $20,000 grant for the organisation they represent. Muslim Charitable Foundation will use the grant to help pay for 125 food hampers every month and provide rental assistance to those in need.

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

Jo Westh from 4 Voices Global

Jo Westh supports vulnerable girls and women and provides the tools to help them rebuild their lives. Through her organisation, 4 Voices, a team of 350 dedicated volunteers operate mobile “connection hubs,” providing isolated women with social and digital connection. More than 3,000 women in the Mt Gravatt region receive support each year.

Rolando Pisia from REKON

Rolando Pisia is passionate about empowering at-risk youth. As director of REKON, Rolando provides inclusive youth programs designed to give young people the tools and support they need. The programs promote positive personal development and social-emotional learning through artistic expression and sports. Between 2020 and 2023, REKON supported over 18,200 young people.

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