By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A VOLUNTEER organisation dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children in Casey will this month hold its inaugural fund-raising dinner.
The ACE Foundation, which offers funding and encouragement awards to local students, has been running for just over a year and on Friday 23 October will host its first charity dinner.
All proceeds from the dinner will go directly to the children.
ACE chairman Leon Shapero, managing director of the Thompson Road Clinic in Cranbourne, spoke earlier this year about his and the charity’s mission to help educate local teenage students.
“Many children in our Casey community face substantial hurdles,” Leon said.
“Language, cultural, financial, family fracture and social challenges have the effect of limiting potential.
“That is the area we wish to impact.”
The fund-raising dinner will consist of a range of entertainment acts, including a comedian, live music, an impersonator and a silent auction.
“I just wanted to do more, and do so utilising the experience I’ve gained on various government committees and boards,” Dr Shapero said.
“I wanted to put something together that could impact on a broader scale.
“And to do that, you need well-known, respected, influential, and like-minded people. Put them together and the team is greater than the sum of its parts.
“The ACE board are very active, hard-working, like-minded and resourceful people who know this community well.”
With Leon sitting as chairman, others on the ACE board include Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon, Cranbourne Secondary College principal Ken Robinson, Courtenay Gardens Primary School principal Loretta Hamilton, Federal Parliament political staffer Janet Halsall, Highview Accounting owner Silvio Marinelli, and Teresa Muratore.
The ACE Foundation assists students of any age, but focuses on helping students in Years 6 to 10.
“I personally thought they were the best years to focus on as they may provide the child with meaningful encouragement,” Dr Shapero said.
“It’s when kids start becoming themselves,” he added.
To purchase tickets for the dinner, contact Teresa Muratore on 5996 9000, or at acefoundation@trcgp.com.au
