Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1335208
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 JANUARY 2021 14 COMMERCIAL Melita Foundation focuses on environment in new funding round THE Melita Foundation is in- viting applications for funding from non-profit organisations, NGOs, charities, and individu- als who are active in the areas of sustainability and the protec- tion of the natural environment. The Foundation, established in February 2019 with an initial investment of €500,000, has issued this invitation as it pre- pares to allocate a second round of funding. The primary vision of The Melita Foundation is to sup- port digital skills and creativi- ty while at the same time pre- serving Malta's heritage and environment. The first benefi- ciaries of the foundation, an- nounced last October, include digital skills and creativity initiatives undertaken by In- spire Foundation, eSkills Malta Foundation and St Margaret College, as well as various her- itage projects such as the res- toration of a historic painting of the Great Siege, an interna- tional Anne Frank exhibition, Fondazzjoni Sebh and Teatru Salesjan. In total the projects received funding in excess of €100,000. Professor Tanya Sam- mut-Bonnici, Chair of The Melita Foundation, said, "As The Melita Foundation heads towards the end of its first year of operation, we are looking to further expand our support to the community by turning our focus to the areas of sustaina- bility and the natural environ- ment. The Foundation's board will positively consider initi- atives which help protect the natural environment and en- courage initiatives towards sus- tainable resources, including alternative energy and water management. The Foundation welcomes applications from organisations and individuals who are using technology to achieve their sustainability or environmental goals." More information on The Melita Foundation including details on how to apply for funding is available at www. melitafoundation.org. McHappy Day raises €25,000 for RMHC learning centre MCDONALD'S customers have helped raise another €25,000 in aid of the Ronald McDonald House Charities' Qawra Learn- ing Centre during last Novem- ber's McHappy Day campaign. The funds were collected at Malta and Gozo's nine McDon- ald's restaurants during a week- long campaign and have now been donated to RMHC. "Every year, our customers display incredible generosity throughout the McHappy Day campaign, our largest annual fund-raiser," Peter Hili, Man- aging Director of Premier Res- taurants Malta, the operator of McDonald's in Malta, said. "We are grateful to our customers who continue to support our favourite charity which is doing an amazing job with numer- ous children and young people who need support, their fami- lies and carers, while assisting some great organisations fulfil their mission." Two years since its official inauguration, the Ronald Mc- Donald House Charities Learn- ing Centre has been partnering with numerous charities and voluntary organisations, giving them access to its purpose-built premises from which to pro- vide services and support to their own young clients and their families and carers. RM- HC's partners include ADHD Malta, the Autism Parents As- sociation, anti-bullying charity bBrave, the Richmond Foun- dation, Smiling with Jerome, Caritas, the National Literacy Agency, MCAST, and the Uni- versity of Malta's Department of Counselling. "Like all aspects of our lives, COVID-19 has brought signifi- cant changes to RMHC Malta's Learning Centre. Over 2020 we continued adapting the way in which we help the community in line with our mission to keep families close," RMHC Malta Chairman Martin Xuereb said. In 2020, RMHC supported 225 children, young people and their parents through training courses and activities, assisted 95 professionals, and organ- ised 84 counselling sessions. In co-ordination with Cari- tas, RMHC also helped deliver 3,546 solidarity meals across 12 weeks in Malta's northern region. Throughout the year, Mc- Donald's makes a donation to RMHC from every Happy Meal sold. To donate directly to RM- HC, customers may drop their change in the boxes at McDon- ald's counters or go online at www.rmhc-malta.com. RMHC Chairman Martin Xuereb (right) receives €25,000 raised during McHappy Day from Peter Hili, Managing Director of McDonald's operator Premier Restaurants Malta