Charity community grants from American Express
American Express has awarded nearly £20,000 worth of grants to five local Sussex charities. The grants, voted for by American Express employees, will be delivered via the Sussex Community Foundation, which facilitates the funding of charities in the Sussex area.
One of the beneficiaries is the Sussex Air Ambulance, which responds to emergency calls in South East England, with a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and air ambulance service that can reach patients in just 15 minutes. The grant will help purchase two training mannequins which are much needed for the clinical air ambulance team. The donation will also be put towards the operating costs of running the life-saving helicopters.
Another additional beneficiary is the Survivor’s Network, an organisation established in 1990 that offers a range of professional relevant services and support groups for female survivors of sexual violence and abuse. The charity runs creative art groups for women and the donation will help fund facilitators, group supervisors and the art supplies necessary for these seminars. Over 1000 women every year contact the Survivor’s Network and the number is growing year on year.
Other recipients of the grants include Whoopsadaisy, which provides Conductive Education to children with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders and also the ABC Fund, which raises money for charities through sponsored swims. A donation will also be given to the Brighton & Hove Unwaged Advice and Rights Centre, an independent unemployed advice centre. Each will be given a grant to help further support their charitable initiatives.
Ian Lundberg, Senior Vice President at American Express, said: “Working in partnership with the Sussex Community Foundation makes sure that our financial support reaches charities that can really make a difference to people in need in our community. American Express has provided over £300,000 worth of grants since June 2006 through our work with the foundation and we are proud to be able to continue to support such valuable and important local causes.”
Registered charities that would like to apply for the next round of grants should contact the Sussex Community Foundation on 01273 409440 or visit www.sussexgiving.org.uk
