Nelson Alexander's Foundation Day is just around the corner!
We are delighted to announce that it will take place on Saturday, 4th June 2022.
What is Foundation Day?
Foundation Day is special to Nelson Alexander as it's the day we give back to our local community.
It’s on this day that each of our sixteen offices donates the professional fee from one of their auctions to support a community organisation or charity.
Foundation Day is a direct response to our Foundation’s focus on supporting youth, education and the alleviation of disadvantage.
How did Foundation Day start?
Our connection to our local communities is intrinsic to our culture. We are proactive in providing meaningful responses to the needs of worthwhile causes through our Nelson Alexander Charitable Foundation.
The Nelson Alexander Charitable Foundation was founded in 2005 to provide a platform for employee involvement in community service. We have raised and distributed more than $4 million dollars since our inception, and this figure continues to increase.
Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA)
Office: Ascot Vale
Auction Property: 23 Union Road, Ascot Vale
EDFA is an organisation founded by parents in Australia who have cared for and treated a young person suffering from an eating disorder.
This passionate group of parents and carers is dedicated to providing lived experience, support, information, and education to empower other parents in their journey with their own loved ones.
Nourishing Neighbours (NN)
Office: Brunswick
Auction Property: 9 Ethel Street, Brunswick East
Nourishing Neighbours (NN) formed in 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide emergency food relief for those suffering food insecurity in northern Melbourne.
NN's food relief program provides assistance to individuals and families facing a range of hardships, including insecure housing and homelessness, unemployment and insecure employment, and domestic violence.
Their emergency relief program provides quick and tailored assistance to those in need, through a walk-in pantry operated by local community volunteers, building community cohesion and social connectivity
Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective
Office: Brunswick
Auction Property: 9 Ethel Street, Brunswick East
Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective (WUC) is a low waste not-for-profit food collective based out of Brunswick and Fawkner Neighbourhood Houses.
There are close to 3000 members of this majority volunteer group focused on providing local, wholefoods and household goods to the Moreland community. The members come from diverse cultural, economic and social backgrounds, but all share a desire to support affordable, delicious and low-packaging food.
For Change Co.
Office: Carlton North Office
Auction Property: 829 Drummond Street, Carlton North
For Change Co. is a not-for-profit organisation working towards an Australia free from youth homelessness.
100% of the revenue generated by their portfolio of hospitality-based social enterprises is invested in their impact model.
Their programs, research, and advocacy work to provide pathways out of homelessness for young Australians. They can achieve this by focusing on their five pillars of sustainable change: housing, education, community, confidence and employment.
Coburg Harriers
Office: Coburg Office
Auction Property: 2a Coburg Street, Coburg
Coburg Harriers has served the local community for over 126 years and is one of Australia's oldest athletic clubs.
Their Athletics Fit for Life Program aims to engage youth in physical activity, provide social connections, and volunteer and employment opportunities.
Athletics is uniquely positioned to re-engage vulnerable members of the community. Sports improve physical and mental well-being while simultaneously providing opportunities to develop life skills and for the development of community connections.
Nelson Alexander Foundation Day funds will be used to subsidise 50 club memberships for disadvantaged youth.
Fitzroy Legal Service
Office: Commercial Office
Auction Property: Fixed Sale/Lease Fee
The Fitzroy Legal Service (FLS) aims to create a fairer and more just Victorian community, one where the legal and social systems promote equality and justice.
In order to achieve this, they provide quality legal services, supported by hundreds of passionate volunteers. In addition, they advocate for reform as an independent and powerful voice and provide legal education and information to the community.
The Pyjama Foundation
Office: Docklands Office
Auction Property: Fixed Sale/Lease Fee
The Pyjama Foundation provides children in foster care the opportunity to change the direction of their lives.
Children in out-of-home care (OOHC) face a number of challenges, including educational disadvantages. When a child in care is faced with more urgent issues, education may be put aside. This may lead to poor literacy, school disengagement, and prolonged social and economic challenges that interfere with achieving success in life.
'The Love of Learning' program addresses this educational disadvantage. This project is transforming the lives of OOHC children by offering them learning, life skills, and confidence to change the direction of their lives. The ‘Pyjama Angels’ are volunteers recruited, screened, and trained to mentor foster children they visit for one hour each week.
Foundation Day is the day we give back to our local community.
Diabetes Clinic - Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Office: Essendon Office
Auction Property: 27 View Street, Essendon West
The Diabetes Clinic continuously strives to understand how high or low blood sugar can affect the brains of children and young adults with Type 1 Diabetes, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) will use Foundation Day funds to run specialist diabetes studies.
Les Twentyman Foundation
Office: Essendon Office
Auction Property: 27 View Street, Essendon West
It is the belief of the Les Twentyman Foundation that every child and young person, regardless of economic circumstances, race, or gender, deserves equal opportunities in life.
Their dedicated team of professionals works across Greater Melbourne, providing support to hundreds of children ages five to 25. These children are facing a variety of stresses that are preventing them from living the life they deserve. These stresses include poverty, mental health, unemployment, racism, addiction, domestic violence, and crime.
They work to keep children and young people engaged in their education, with their families and in their communities.
Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS)
Office: Fitzroy Office
Auction Property: 7 Langridge Street, Collingwood
Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) is a school and boarding program for Indigenous students from remote and regional communities.
Each year, 22 students attend MITS at Year 7 in Richmond, then transition to their Melbourne Partner Schools for Years 8 onwards.
MITS provides boarding accommodation to these students, where they can live with their Indigenous peers. They are establishing a brand-new boarding house in Richmond and our funds will contribute to the purchase of 20 student beds.
Sacred Heart School Primary School, Fitzroy
Office: Fitzroy Office
Auction Property: 7 Langridge Street, Collingwood
Many of the Sacred Heart School Primary School's families experienced social isolation and lack of connectedness during the COVID lockdowns of 2020-2021so they have employed a teacher’s aide and wish to establish a playgroup.
During these playgroup sessions, they want to provide opportunities for young children to develop social and physical skills in a stimulating environment, playing and learning through a wide variety of early learning experiences.
The additional aim of establishing a playgroup is to provide assistance and advice to parents and caregivers, to give them a chance to share ideas and experiences, and to develop a better understanding of how they can improve their child's development through hands-on learning and education.
Kensington Neighbourhood House
Office: Flemington Office
Auction Property: 55 Princes Street, Flemington
Kensington Neighbourhood House (KNH) was established in 1975 by a group of local Kensington women, and it continues to be community-owned and run. For nearly 5 decades, Kensington Neighbourhood House has been at the heart of their suburb.
They welcome over 1,000 people a year through their doors and provide education, social inclusion, recreation and wellbeing programs across all age groups and socio-economic levels.
Schools Plus
Office: Ivanhoe Office
Auction Property: 128 Green Street, Ivanhoe
Schools Plus was founded following a recommendation in the first Gonski Review, which identified a need for philanthropic funding in schools, to help close the education gap caused by disadvantages.
Their purpose is to close the education gap caused by disadvantages.
Their vision is that all young Australians reach their potential through access to a great education.
Their mission is to facilitate sustainable change to help children facing disadvantages succeed at school.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Office: Keilor East Office
Auction Property: 42 The Crossway Keilor East
With a focus on improved mental health literacy and early intervention, Youth MHFA is designed for adults who work, live or care for adolescents such as teachers, school support staff, parents, sports coaches, community group leaders and youth workers.
Their course equips adults with the skills to recognise and respond to an adolescent who may be experiencing a mental health problem or crisis situation. Using a practical, evidence-based action plan, Youth MHFA teaches participants how to support an adolescent until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
Foundation Day funding will be used to train 100 community members within schools, organisations and community groups.
Boroondara Community Outreach
Office: Kew Office
Auction Property: 3/7 Churchill Street, Kew
Boroondara Community Outreach’s (BCO) mission is to support people who are socially isolated or living with a mental illness, to live with dignity and engage with the community.
In addition to their mental illness, many have other co-existing issues such as financial disadvantage, limited support networks and poor physical health.
BCO offers an inclusive and welcoming community for those looking for a place to belong and to contribute. Their aim is, that when people feel they belong and are supported, their health and well-being will improve on all levels.
Arts Project Australia
Office: Northcote Office
Auction Property: 2 Henderson Street, Northcote
Arts Project Australia (APA) is a creative social enterprise that supports artists with intellectual disabilities, promotes their work and advocates for their inclusion within the broader contemporary art sector.
Founded in 1974 they have built a reputation both in Australia and internationally for the consistency and quality of their exhibitions and programs that they deliver, along with the extraordinary opportunities and experiences they broker for their artists.
VIC SES - Northcote Division
Office: Northcote Office
Auction Property: 2 Henderson Street, Northcote
Northcote SES assists the community by providing highly trained volunteers that help with emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Their support regularly relates to storms and floods including fallen trees, building damage, or searching for missing people. They also provide community education on preparing for emergencies and help build community resilience.
Foundation Day funding will support their vehicle fleet to ensure the unit has a fleet suitable to meet the ever-evolving needs of the community.
Kidney Health Australia – Kidney Buddies
Office: Pascoe Vale Office
Auction Property: 1 Kinross Street, Pascoe Vale
Kidney Health Australia (KHA) is the peak body for people with kidney disease in Australia.
KHA’s primary objective is to save and improve the lives of people affected by kidney disease by promoting good kidney health through programs and services focused on education, advocacy, research, and support.
The Kidney Buddy Program (Kidney Buddies) is a new peer support program that aims to connect people living with kidney disease with a Kidney Buddy who has lived the experience.
Ngarrimili
Office: Preston Office
Auction Property: 32 Roseberry Avenue, Preston
Meaning ‘to dance’ in Wadawurrung–Ngarrimili works with a large collective of First Nations businesses and creatives based across the Darebin region. They have strong partnerships with Thornbury High School and Reservoir East Primary school, both of which have some of the largest First Nations student cohorts in Melbourne.
In partnership with the schools and their network of local First Nations businesses, they will deliver a program that offers approximately 100 students a hands-on, immersive experience to explore entrepreneurship as a career pathway.
Lighthouse Foundation – Reservoir Hub
Office: Reservoir Office
Auction Property: 4 Union Street, Preston
Lighthouse Foundation’s Foster Care program has been carefully designed to sustain foster relationships, despite the inevitable challenges associated with supporting young people who have experienced significant trauma.
Their unique ‘Hub’ model works by uniting up to ten families at any one time around a central ‘Hub Home’ in Reservoir. Foster families use the hub home for regular respite, sleepovers and access to clinical therapy and advice to the entire foster family.
We look forward to seeing you at one of these auctions, helping us to support our community and make this Foundation Day our best ever!
