Members of Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club in Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt have extended their vision beyond the gates of their Frankston home and are giving back to the local community.

The Peninsula Kingswood Community Foundation (PKCF) was established when the merger club officially reopened in 2019 and they have expanded their philanthropic efforts since.

“We recognised that we were amongst one of the most disadvantaged communities in Melbourne. We didn’t want to be this island of privileged people among a community that desperately needs help,” Glenn Fernandez, chair of the PKCF committee, said.

“We felt that to be part of the local community, we had to extend a helping hand. Covid has really highlighted that the privileged are okay and we need to give more to the disadvantaged within the community.”

The Foundation is presently raising funds for neighbouring primary school Mahogany Rise Primary and local women and young girls caught up in the justice system.

In the past, the club’s women have raised between $3,000 and $5,000 annually for Mahogany Rise - which is one of the most disadvantaged schools in Melbourne - but this year the Foundation was able to contribute $25,000 to educating the students’ on healthy living.

“With that $25,000 we’re able to pay for the students' fruit. Kids come to school without meals so breakfast, recess and lunch we provide all the fruit that the school consumes for the whole year,” Fernandez said. 

“With the funds they will also construct a netball court - a play space for the students. That’s a health and wellbeing contribution from us.”

The Foundation has also donated $35,000 to the Living Free Project by Taskforce, which supports vulnerable young girls and women who are typically homeless and caught up in the criminal justice system.

The money raised goes towards travel costs, clothing, emergency accommodation and other material needs those impacted may have.

“There are young girls who run away from home because home is not safe, and they get caught up in the justice system, so this is an intervention program,” Fernandez said. 

“It is designed to support women and young girls to break the cycle of crime, so we work with them to understand what needs they have.

“We’ve contributed $35,000 to the program and that supports about 80 women and girls locally. Basically it helps them out of the justice system and helps them learn skills to gain employment.”

Most of this year's donations came from a Pro Am day hosted by major champion Geoff Ogilvy and Olympic representative Marcus Fraser - the day raised $50,000 - and Fernandez is hopeful that such charitable events can make positive impacts on not just the less fortunate.

“We want to be leading a change in club culture,” Fernandez said.

“We think being outwardly looking will build a positive club culture. We recognise that it can create and connect communities.”

In order to do so, the Foundation is hosting another Pro Am day on Monday 31 January, 2022 and Fernandez said they are eager to stage more fundraising initiatives next year due to less Covid interruptions.

Find out more about the Peninsula Kingswood Community Foundation.