Champion gift to help kids

By Jim Mynard
BUSINESSMAN Andrew Facey has kicked off the next Windermere Kids Becoming Champions program with a significant donation.
Mr Facey has also called on other business people to support the program.
He said during a visit to Pakenham Consolidated School that the program really made a difference by assisting at risk children.
“This program helps those most at risk by addressing their physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs with a unique approach.”
He said business people could help lay strong foundations with the most disadvantaged kids in the area through the program.
Since the Kids Becoming Champions program was piloted four years ago, targeting children from five to 12 years, nearly 50 kids have been inducted into Windermere’s holistic early intervention service with amazing results.
The community entirely funds the service that is designed to provide lasting strategies and resilience for children to achieve their potential and avoid a path to welfare dependence, crime or drugs.
Mr Facey, of Parklea Developments, said it was time to bring in the next 50 kids who were in serious crisis before it was too late.
He said he met some of the kids in the program at Pakenham last year and they had related in an amazing way.
“They showed wonderful trust, especially when you hear what some of them had been through.
“I wanted to ensure more kids received the same support because it made a difference.
“This is not just some Bandaid solution or quick fix, it is a solid foundation,” he said.
Manager of the Kids Becoming Champions program Jo Gaynor said it gave children who had faced extreme disadvantage, neglect and abuse, intensive support needed to enhance their chances of completing secondary school and becoming contributing members of society.
“Too often the die is cast at an early age with these kids.
“Other services often only give them support in one key area, which just isn’t enough.
“Since we started the service the sheer number of children waiting to be introduced to the service has grown beyond belief, but we simply don’t have the staff.
“It costs $10,000 a year for a child on this program, which seems a lot of money.
“But compared with the longterm cost to the community if these kids continue in the direction they’re going, it’s a smart investment,” Ms Gaynor said.
Ms Gaynor said cost assessments showed that the investment in longterm savings to the community and the government was more than $90,000.