The Southern Highlands Foundation has re-defined its charter to ensure greater support for individuals and community groups in need.

Meanwhile, the foundation has had a surge in membership support from philanthropic people in the community eager to expand the reach of the organisation.

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The foundation has been providing a financial lifeline within the Southern Highlands community for the past 20 years.

In the past 18 months it has been integral to guiding fundraising efforts and distributing financial support to the region's residents hardest hit by the Black Summer bushfires.

It was integral in the distribution of funds raised through the FireAid 2020 concert held at Bong Bong Racecourse and funds have continued to roll in for the Foundation's Bushfire Aid.

It provided a valuable financial boost to another charitable organisation CanAssist Southern Highlands, which supports local residents diagnosed with cancer and their families. The Foundation donated $40,000 to Can Assist in 2020 at a time when the cancer support charity has struggled to fundraise due to the Covid pandemic restrictions.

Support within the community has also been provided in the form of an ongoing scholarship program through Wollongong University for Indigenous students from the Highlands and support for the arts.

Foundation chair Shelley Boyce said the intention of the organisation moving forward was to be "impact givers" putting money into the community whenever it was needed.

"Our intention now is to find benefactors to bring money to the community as it is needed," she said.

Foundation administration officer Bridget Cosyn said that funding opportunities were "coming to the foundation regularly."

"We are constantly being invited to apply for funds in granting rounds," she said.

Meanwhile a pledge for support from Global Giving in October 2020 resulted in the foundation securing about $35,000 AUS ($25,000 US). The generous donation, from the US organisation Global Giving, was motivated by the impact of the 2019/20 summer bushfires in Australia.

It has been used for another initiative of the foundation intended to boost the spirits of the community, especially those impacted by the Black Summer bushfires.

This has taken the form of a photographic initiative with Wingecarribee Shire Council, which invited people impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires to voice their experience through photos.

These photos have been woven into a book entitled 'Photo Voice' soon to be launched. The theme is renewal and resilience with a focus on building resilience through community representation.

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