Showing we believe in them: How the Penelope Award Fund is supporting young students

The value of education has been a constant theme in Elisabeth Gazard’s life.

In a career that has taken her from Adelaide to London and back, with post-graduate qualifications along the way, Elisabeth wrapped up her career at The Wyatt Trust where she spent 11 years as CEO.

Elisabeth with Foundation SA’s Sophie Doyle

A firm believer in the power of education to provide pathways out of poverty and disadvantage, Elisabeth recently established the Penelope Award Fund at Foundation SA, named after her daughter.

The Penelope Award is designed to support young people to achieve the best personal outcomes from education during their years of personal development and growth. The Fund supports individual students in Adelaide’s northwest who are facing social and financial barriers to participation, inclusion and completion of the school’s programs.

During a recent meeting at Inparrila with Foundation SA CEO, Sophie Doyle, Elisabeth spoke about her motivation, thoughts and hopes for the Penelope Award Fund.

Can you share a little about your background and how you came to be where you are?

EG: I was born in Adelaide and my parents were ambitious for me and my sister to be well educated. My father was an early graduate of Adelaide University in engineering. We lived in a new suburb, Woodville, where families were young and mothers stayed home.

We went to the local schools and some of our classmates were children of post-war European migrants. Many local men worked at the now defunct Holden factory nearby. Class sizes were 60+ and some children struggled through the schooling process without the teacher support that we now take for granted.

I graduated as a social worker and worked in a hospital in the western suburbs of Adelaide and then overseas in London in a mental health hospital. Later, I also worked for a time in aged care, being one of the first workers in SA’s pioneer Elder Abuse Program.

In the last 20 years of my career, I worked at The Wyatt Benevolent Institution where I learned about modern philanthropy and was involved in programs of individual financial grants and scholarships to students.

My daughter became a teacher in a western suburbs school, and we had various discussions about issues for students who come from financially and socially disadvantaged families. I was reminded of some of the experiences of the people I met as a social worker in the 1970s.

Why did you establish your fund? And why is education important to you?

I have always had what was termed a social conscience (maybe old fashioned term these days) and the principle that education can provide a pathway out of disadvantage/poverty has always been forefront.

There is so much pressure on school students these days that it has become especially important to consider the social and health issues for children. As ever, feeling included, valued and encouraged to participate in learning and extracurricular learning is critical for self esteem and personal development.

I aim to support students and their families with the costs of education which they cannot meet – basic costs such as uniforms, school sports participation, fees and extra curricular support for special talents etc. Using the expertise and judgement of their teachers who know them well, students and their families are helped with specific needs.

I am aware of programs which already help disadvantaged school children through programs of support. I have had the experience of seeing that a gift of money for a specific purpose can demonstrate to recipients that someone believes in them and trusts them to solve their issues. I want to provide support which is individualised and immediate. I have heard from people who have received such grants in their past life and describe the impact as very high.

I am not wealthy, but fortunately, I am now in the position to be able to give.

Why do you choose to give through Foundation SA? What do you see as the benefits of giving this way?

As a worker in the philanthropy sector, I was in contact with several community foundations in Australia and SA and so was pleased when Wyatt sponsored Foundation SA and I was able to participate.

Through this system I can support my particular interest, but also involve my family in the process of giving to others. They are at a stage in life of working hard, caring for families and paying off mortgages. But I would like them to experience giving to help others and introduce them to the practice of philanthropy.

So Foundation SA enables us to participate in philanthropy and the wellbeing of the community. It allows us to follow our concerns and direct the giving process, but provides the background work of compliance with the ATO and investment of funds.

What kind of impact do you hope your giving ultimately makes?

More people with good experiences of secondary schooling taking the benefits of their achievement into adult life and contributing positively to their communities.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about giving?

Statements of good intention and good ideas are not enough. It is not easy to give effectively.

Through my previous involvement in philanthropy I have learnt that ideas of need and proposals to provide support for specific need must be backed up by competent strategies, identified outcomes and competent implementation. Service organisations that receive funding have a big responsibility.

Our humble Fund with its method of giving to individuals through their teachers and schools is very small, and newly formed, so we are just starting to test its impact and have more to learn.

Many donors speak about the ‘joy of giving’ – how does giving make you feel?

I am acting upon my concerns. I feel involved and passionate about helping others. I wish that I could afford to do more.