Nestlé Professional has awarded three community organisations $10,000 each to invest back into their local region.

The Serve Your Community promotion called for small businesses and groups to share how $10,000 could support local initiatives. Almost 100 projects, initiatives and programs from across Australia were submitted, with the judging panel selecting winners based on four key pillars – community, impact, expansion, and realisation.

Entries from Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre in Bendigo, Victoria, Darwin’s Aboriginal Investment Group and the Texas and District Drought Support (TADDS) in Queensland, stood out for their commitment and vision, each winning $10,000 to support their intended project.

Nestlé Professional general manager, Kristina Czepl said, “Community spirit is integral to us as it is the unwavering community spirit of towns such as Gympie and Smithtown that powers some of our most iconic brands. We are proud to recognise and support these deserving organisations through this promotion, who clearly care deeply for their communities. It was wonderful to honour them with their prize at our inaugural Serve Your Community Award Ceremony.”

The Serve Your Community award funds will support the following community outcomes:

  • Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre has committed to building a new bike path and investing in a supply of balance bikes and trikes for preschool-aged children. With a strong multicultural community, the play space will assist young children and their families in developing road safety knowledge.
  • Aboriginal Investment Group will continue to fund their free critical laundry service in remote communities across the Northern Territory, directly supporting the employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in the community.
  • Texas and District Drought Support Inc (TADDS) will continue to facilitate services that build community resilience and support life skill education. This includes Mates Helping Mates Morning Teas, Make & Create Sessions, hosting workshops, building a community garden and increasing participation in financial literacy and mental wellness activities.

In addition to the three major prize winners, Nestlé Professional awarded 10 highly commended prize packs valued up to $1,390 each to further support the work of volunteers and community members. The packs include the ‘Celebrate Community Spirit’ Collection of Nescafé Blend 43 1kg tins and 1.9kg Milo tins by Nestlé Professional, five Aldo beverage dispenser machines, five Milo cooler flasks, and 10 sets of Nescafé flowerpots, notebooks and pens made using recycled coffee ground waste.