G.J. Gardner Ararat Horsham and Hamilton manager and co-owner Sally Heard said she and fellow co-owner Ashley heard came up with the idea of allowing customers to direct a portion of their building contract to charities and groups in the area.

“The G.J. Gardner Victoria and Tasmania franchise was looking for new ideas to do with clients and we thought this would be a good way to allow our clients to decide where our sponsorship and donation money goes to,” Sally said.

“Having the money stay local is really important to us, so that’s why we developed the program. 

Through the resulting ‘Community Growth Fund’, any new customer that signs up with G J Gardner Homes can nominate a local organisation or charity that they support and G.J. Gardner Homes will contribute 0.1 per cent of the contract price to the nominated group on their behalf.

A certificate bearing the customer’s name is also sent to the charity.

G.J. Gardner builds about 25 to 30 homes per year across the region.

East Grampians Health Service’s cardiac rehabilitation program has benefited from G.J. Gardner Homes’ Community Growth Program.

Two residents have nominated their funds to go to cardiac rehabilitation at East Grampians Health Service.

The donation will be put towards new equipment for the cardiac rehabilitation program following the redevelopment of the Community Health Centre, from which the program is run.

“We are very grateful to G.J. Gardener homes’ Sally and Ashley Heard and the home owners for this donation from the Community Growth program,” EGHS chief executive Nick Bush said.

“Sally and Ashley are to be commended for developing this program, which directly benefits local organisations and charities.

“Our cardiac rehabilitation programs are an integral part of the services offered at the Community Health Centre.

“The donation will be put to good use by the department once the redevelopment of the building has taken place and new equipment sourced.”

The program has also benefited organisations in Horsham.

“We have done one donation in Horsham to a relay for life team,” Sally said.

“There was also a food bank in Horsham that a client wanted to support and clients that picked the hospital had a friend who had a heart condition who had been treated there and wanted to make sure that area was given the donation.

“Generally it’s the schools and kindergartens that benefit. We don’t like to donate where the money goes, other than it stays local.”