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About Us
Foundation History
Harold Mitchell’s very modest childhood circumstances followed by decades of business success as an adult has taught him many things, not the least of which is that we are all highly dependent on each other for our individual and collective prosperity.
In a 2008 speech to the Fundraising Institute of Australia Harold said “All people are dependent on each other for the achievement of their individual and collective dreams. For me to live, I need others to live. For me to survive, I need others to survive. For me to prosper, I need others to prosper.”
In the year 2000, after many years of anonymous giving of time and money, Harold and his family decided to increase their philanthropic commitment to the community in which their own hard work has been rewarded. They established the Harold Mitchell Foundation and in doing so expressed the hope that others would increase their giving.
Harold commented at the time, “We all have the capacity to give. I hope that increasing numbers of Australians will give something back to the community - each according to their means.”
With a passionate involvement in the arts and health for many years, the Mitchell family decided to make these areas the focus of their Foundation. The family believes that it is our health that sustains us and our creativity that gives us meaning and excitement for living.
The aspirations the family declared in 2000 have been fulfilled over the past 8 years. Since funding commenced in 2001, the Foundation has funded 147 projects to a value of $5.1 million (at February 2010).
The range and spread of these projects has been far reaching. We have funded projects across Australia and some internationally. Whilst we will never know the precise number of people who have been affected, we are confident that lives have been improved, positively influenced, in some cases saved, and individual and collective talent has been recognised and developed.Our Funded Projects section provides a selection of summaries of a number of projects we have funded over the recent past.
During these first years, the Foundation together with the Mitchell Family has also assisted a large number of organisations and individuals in non-financial ways through advocacy, lobbying and the provision of references and contacts.
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