Cheque looks after the kids

ACE Foundation members Dr.Leon Shapero, Teresa Muratore accept a cheque from Maree Cullinan, Robin Dzedins and Andy Reid from the Balla Balla Community Centre. 186001_01. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Brendan Rees

Balla Balla Community Centre has donated a generous $10,000 to the Aiding Casey Education (ACE) Foundation to assist primary school students in the Cranbourne area.

The centre’s president Andy Reid, centre manager Maree Cullinan and team members Robin Dzedins and Dianne Wilson presented the cheque on Wednesday 10 October.

ACE administrator Teresa Muratore thanked the Balla Balla Community Centre for their support and providing “positive community outcomes and opportunities.”

“The vision of the ACE Foundation is to assist children in the City of Casey overcome challenges in their educational pursuits,” she said.

The foundation organises vision assessments for primary school students and pays for glasses if the children require them.

More than 640 pairs of glasses have been provided to primary school students during the past 12 months.

“There is no cost to the children or their families,” added Ms Muratore.

“The ACE Foundation also organises free tuition for high school students three nights a week, provides meal replacement drinks for high school students who arrive at school without having had breakfast or without lunch provided, and supplies readers for all prep students in the City of Casey.”

Ms Cullinan said that the centre was thrilled to provide the donation.

“The centre had worked hard with its staff, committee and volunteers to provide this donation that would achieve positive community outcomes and opportunities,” she said.

“We acknowledge the valuable work that ACE do in the community and in particular within the schools in the Cranbourne area and know the donation will make a difference for many local families and children.”