Active Commitment to Sponsorship
Affinity Education Group has increased its commitment to The Smith FamilyLearning for Life program again in the third quarter of 2023, with 236 individual child sponsorships now being actively supported on behalf of centres around Australia. The program acknowledges the importance of additional support for children facing disadvantages, recognising that such support is essential for maintaining their engagement in education.
Learning for Life helps children create better futures for themselves by providing:
- Financial assistance from a sponsor to help families meet the cost of school essentials like uniforms, books and excursions.
- Support from a Learning for Life Program Coordinator to connect the child and their family to local learning opportunities and other supports.
- Access to The Smith Family out-of-school mentoring and educational programs to help children get the most out of their school years.
Newcomers to Affinity Join Sponsorship Efforts
Newcomers to the Affinity Education Group community, including Kids Academy Mickleham, Kids Academy Waratah Estate and Kids Academy Melton in Victoria, are among those who are thrilled to sponsor a disadvantaged child.
Values Aligned With Vision
CEO Tim Hickey said the company's decision to broaden its corporate social responsibility strategy through a national commitment aligned with the company's values and employee feedback received in 2022.
"Our Affinity Commitment to The Smith Family is 'one child sponsored for every centre operated’ " Mr Hickey said.
One of the Affinity Values our centre teams always highlight is Being Completely Connected – with their families, and with local schools and communities," he said.
"Our promise – potential, realised – aligns strongly with The Smith Family vision for a world where every child has the opportunity to change their future" Mr Hickey said.
"And our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, which aims to grow and instill a lifelong love of learning in every child, sets children up for the best possible success in primary school and beyond. It was a natural progression for us to choose The Smith Family's Learning for Life program, which provides young Australians in need with long-term educational support," Mr Hickey said.
Centre Manager Erin Bonehill from Milestones Early Learning Werribee said her team were delighted when they received the news of their centre's sponsorship.
"Our educators absolutely love children, so this sponsorship provided on our behalf by Affinity was really meaningful for us as employees because it demonstrates another way we can give back to Australian families," Erin said.
Light Up Education for Children in Need
This year we have chosen to support The Smith Family by setting up a Giving Tree to light up education for Australian children living in disadvantage. We are extending an invitation to help us reach our target of $10,000 via the Affinity Education Group Giving Tree.
Follow the link below to find out more:
