Partners and Sponsors

It is the unsung individual who takes action to help while seeking nothing in return that ultimately will close the space between us and improve the lives of all of our children.  

We thank all of those who contribute to Australia’s greatest national challenge.  

PARTNERS & SPONSORS

SUNRISE HEALTH SERVICE ABORIGINAL CORPORATION
provides health care in twelve remote communities to the east of Katherine. With funding from Fountain for youth the Sunrise team also delivers health education and early learning to the younger children and supports mothers and their infants in early learning programs.

NORTHERN TERRITORY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION runs most schools in the region. Under the direction of the Katherine Group Schools area Schools Supervisor, Mr Stuart Dwyer and Backpack Project Officer Catherine Meng, Principals and teachers from the 16 remote community schools work with parents and students in distributing books and reading materials through the Literacy Backpack project.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT – DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT & WORKPLACE RELATIONS is supporting the health education and literacy projects developed by Fountain for youth. In August 2008 the Federal Minister for Education, Ms Julia Gillard announced a grant of $1million over two years for the “Literacy Empowerment Project”.  A new grant of  $1.3 million was approved in 2011 for a further two years.

DJILPIN ARTS is an Aboriginal arts company behind the “Walking with Spirits” Festival held in late July each year at Beswick Falls and the new “Ghunmarn Cultural Centre” in Wugularr, NT.  Led by Tom Lewis, the actor, musician and film maker, highly creative cultural programs are developed for local communities and Aboriginal children.  Djilpin Arts was created to maintain traditional indigenous art and culture and develop contemporary means of recording, showcasing and sharing this culture.  The organisation specializes in cultural performance, incorporating song, dance, music, story, digital technology and traditional arts practice into presentation formats appropriate for public exhibition.  Fountain for youth and other partners are proud to support Djilpin Arts.

Bestest Foundation is a charity providing the best of the best for kids in need, easing the burden and neglected needs of children who fall outside the standard boundaries of the larger established charities. Bestest will support Australian children assisting them to battle an illness, obtain equipment for disabilities, gain access to education, provide urgent assistance to children at risk. Bestest is there when there is no where else to turn.
Bestest supports Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for youth to improve health & education outcomes for Indigenous children in remote communities of Australia through the Literacy Backpack Project. Since 2006 Bestest has donated over $280,000 towards the Literacy Backpack Project and will continue their generous support giving Indigenous children their Bestest opportunity to discover books and a love for learning. Bestest believes that “all our children deserve the opportunity to thrive”.Unquote

The O’Neill Foundation is a Prescribed Private Fund whose objects include the giving of financial support to organisations focussed on the relieving of suffering, hardship and providing support to those in need. Trustees of the Foundation include several members of the O’Neill and Rickards families”. The O’Neill Foundation donated a very generous $50,000 towards the new Basket Ball Court/Community Centre Facility planned for the new Wugularr School to be built in 2007 and in 2008, $20,000 towards the much needed renovations of the Murri School Pool in Brisbane, QLD.

 

The Morawetz Social Justice Fund supports projects in Australia and in developing countries which aim to reduce social and economic injustice, and  to promote equality of opportunity. The Morawetz Social Justice Fund (a fund of the Melbourne Community Foundation) is proud to be an ongoing supporter of the excellent indigenous early childhood literacy projects of Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for Youth.

SUPPORTERS

Cinematographer David Brill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Cinematographer Phil Donoghue
Film Editor Mike Chirgwin