Generous parishioners seed new Stella Maris fund

An anonymous group of local parishioners have gifted $50,000 to The Sunrise Foundation, to seed an endowment fund for Stella Maris Catholic Early Childhood Centre. The gift is intended to help those children in greatest need. 

The new fund will support children from families who are struggling financially to participate fully in the life of Stella Maris. Specifically, it will assist children in the spiritual, academic, cultural, and general activities of Stella Maris. 

Bridget Armstrong, Stella Maris centre leader, said she felt incredibly blessed and honoured to be at the receiving end of such a selfless act of generosity. 

“In future years, an annual grant from our fund will help us support parents who need extra financial assistance. Perhaps, subsidise fees to help those who would like to increase their child's hours of care but can’t afford to,” says Bridget. 

When Stella Maris opened its doors on Campion Road approximately one year ago, Bridget says if felt as if they’d completed the Catholic community. 

“We have St Mary’s Star of the Sea church and Campion across the road, St Mary’s right next door, and now us. It’s a full circle and means as the children grow, progressing from one education area to the next, it’s pretty stress free for them,” says Bridget. 

All donations made to the Stella Maris endowment fund are invested and protected for the future. Every year the investment income is distributed back to Stella Maris as a grant, meaning your donation will continue supporting the centre forever.