[Sydney, Australia – 7th May 2024] – Aboriginal-led scholarship program, The GO Foundation, received a substantial donation of $250,000 from the ATOM Community Engagement (ACE) Fund at GO’s Culture Connect event in Sydney on May 7th. ATOM’s National Sales Manager, Darren Deitz, had the privilege of presenting the momentous donation in front of over 200 of GO’s Sydney Scholars, solidifying the partnership between the GO Foundation and ATOM and their shared commitment to providing youth-to-work opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across Australia.
"We’re thankful for ATOM’s support and generosity which will help allow us to empower young Indigenous people through education and continue to create an environment where successful stories of our GO students can emerge," said Charlene Davison, CEO of the GO Foundation. "With the help of this donation, we will continue to deliver our holistic Program and new initiatives to as many Indigenous students as possible, driving our work to creating positive futures in the long term."
The GO Foundation was co-founded by former AFL legends Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin to help create opportunities for young Indigenous people through providing scholarships, mentorships, and holistic programs, with a focus on connecting students to their identity, their culture and the wider community. The GO Foundation intends to put the ACE Fund’s substantial donation towards deepening their relationships with current students through the delivery of additional Culture Connect Days, an event designed to inspire and help connect them with Indigenous culture. It will enable the growth of two of GO’s newest programs, Leadership Days for Year 5 and 6 students, dedicated to supporting the challenging transition to high school for Year 5 and 6 students as well as helping to grow GO’s Alumni Network. Vitally, this donation will also help increase the number of available university scholarships for Year 11 and 12 students in 2024.
ATOM, is proud to be the team behind the team’s driving industry in Australia, and to be giving back to the communities that have supported them to become Australia’s fastest-growing supplier of industrial and safety products. The ATOM Community Engagement (ACE) Fund, a charitable trust, receives proceeds from the sales to ATOM’s customers of Indigenous sourced products, to distribute back to charities supporting Indigenous communities. Further, by sourcing and promoting Indigenous products to its customers, ATOM is supporting the growth of Indigenous businesses and brands, including Wirra and Akurra, leading PPE and work wear brands.
“The ACE Fund was established to demonstrate ATOM’s commitment to engage with and support the wider community through which it derives its social license to operate," said Darren Deitz, National Sales Manager at ATOM. "We are extremely proud to partner with organisations aligned with this giving-back philosophy, such as the GO Foundation, who have a demonstrably successful record at creating enduring opportunities for Indigenous youth through education pathway programs.”
About us:
About ATOM:
ATOM is the team behind the team’s driving industry in Australia. Yes, ATOM have a national network of Industrial Supply warehouses and access to over 1,000,000 MRO and Safety products from leading brands. But service is at the core of why ATOM exists, the ATOM team is guided by the principle “we do the little things for each other so that the little things get done for our customers” creating a unique relationship with customers where they have a team dedicated to serve them. ATOM is committed to community engagement through the ATOM Community Engagement Fund and strives to make a positive impact through their corporate responsibility initiatives. https://www.atom.com.au/
About the ATOM Community Engagement (ACE) Fund:
ATOM takes great pride in the establishment of the ATOM Community Engagement (ACE) Fund, a charitable trust that provides the opportunity to contribute and support the wider community in alignment with ATOM’s Corporate Engagement commitment. Operated by Corporate Trustees, the ACE Fund is a Public Ancillary Fund dedicated to directing funds towards charities that resonate with ATOM’s core objectives, particularly focusing on three key areas: Indigenous youth through education pathway programs, Indigenous health and community engagement, and cancer prevention and treatment for both men and women. Through the ACE Fund, ATOM has forged partnerships with impactful organisations whose missions align closely with ATOM’s philosophy towards supporting communities by working towards creating a better future and more opportunities.
About the GO Foundation:
The GO Foundation is an Aboriginal-led organisation focused on creating pathways to education for Indigenous students through the delivery of their holistic Scholarship Program. Through scholarships, mentorship programs, and community partnerships, the GO Foundation aims to empower Indigenous youth to achieve their full potential and make a meaningful contribution to society. GO gives Indigenous students in Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra a chance to connect with culture and community while at school and university through cultural and aspirational connection days, whilst also allowing access to professional opportunities and financial support.
Contact details:
Melissa Petrowsky
Marketing Manager
0458 095 206
or
Catherine Gunning
GO Foundation Partnerships & Fundraising Manager
0422 410 560
