24 February, 2004
With the help of Harness
Racing Victoria, the Essendon
Football and Community Sporting Club (EFCSC) yesterday donated $7,500 to local charities The Caroline Chisholm Society
and TLC for Kids respectively.
Two years ago Harness Racing Victoria gave EFCSC a
horse accordingly named ?Windyhillbomber? to race on behalf of the Club
members.
The EFCSC gives approximately
$50,000 to community sporting groups each year and has raised in excess of
$100,000 for Very Special Kids over the last 5 years.? They decided to donate ?Windyhillbomber? proceeds to local
charities in recognition of their important work in the community.?
EFCSC manager Alan Burton said,? The Caroline
Chisholm Society has provided support for pregnant women and their families in
the local area for many, many years.? We
are thrilled to be able to support this important organisation along with TLC
for Kids which ?makes dreams come true? for sick children and their
families through events, celebrity visits and social activities.?
HRV Chairman Neil Busse said, ?The
relationship between Harness Racing Victoria and the Essendon Football and
Community Sporting Club has proven beneficial to both parties and we are
delighted that the earnings from Windyhillbomber are going to such worthy
causes. We hope the horse goes on to bigger and better things so that the
Essendon club can continue to support the local community.?
TLC for
KIDS will use the funds to create a ?White World? for the children.? CEO, Tim Conolan (pictured with Chris
Alford) said,? It?s amazing, we came up with the concept for this major
event but didn?t know where the budget was going to come from.? The EFCSC donation means we can now give
children the opportunity to create their own world.? They will paint a series of white cut-outs of depicting relevant
to their environment including hospital beds, medical equipment and people, any
color they choose in a warehouse in Kensington.? This will become an exhibition open to the public followed by an
auction to raise funds for TLC for Kids.?
As a local Charity supporting at risk families who
are pregnant or have young children, CEO Mary D'Elia (pictured with
Chris Alford) said that the Caroline Chisholm Society was delighted to be
chosen by the EFCSC to be a recipient of $7,500 as this will make a very real
difference to the Society's ability to provide parenting skills programs,
practical support and post natal depression work in the Western Region.
"It's fantastic, this donation will really assist us to further our work
with some of the region's most vulnerable families."
Thanks to the generosity of Alabar who bred and leased out
the four-year-old, Windyhillbomber has now raced 30 times for six wins and 13
placings. A trial winner at Cranbourne last Saturday morning, he?s due to
return from a month on the sideline next week.?