• Ronald McDonald House Charities Wagga Wagga chosen as a recipient of Charles Sturt University CUP Grant

Funding from Charles Sturt University will allow parents with sick children using the Ronald McDonald House Family Room in Wagga Wagga to stay connected while away from home.

The Ronald McDonald House Family Room, operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities Wagga Wagga, is one of the recipients of Charles Sturt’s Community-University Partnership (CUP) Grants program.

The charity submitted an application in the 2020 round to purchase a new laptop that would be loaned to parents to use in the family room in the hospital.

The laptop is intended to keep parents connected to work, emails and the internet as they stay away from home.

The number of pre-COVID-19 visitors to the family room was an average of 25 per day.

Charles Sturt has awarded more than $48,000 in funding to more than 50 recipients during the 2020 round of CUP Grants.

Charles Sturt Director of External Engagement in Wagga Wagga and Albury-Wodonga Ms Samantha Beresford said it was a strong indication of the commitment the University has to its communities.

“Charles Sturt University remains committed to our communities in awarding more than $48,000 in CUP Grant funding in 2020 to support these types of wonderful initiatives and programs,” she said.

“Ronald McDonald House Charities continues to show their unwaivering commitment in supporting sick children in regional Australia and Charles Sturt University is proud to be able to support their endeavours.

“The University looks forward to running our CUP Grants program in 2021.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities Wagga Wagga Executive Officer Ms Lisa Simpson said the grant would make a difference to parents who will continue to use the family room.

“Ronald McDonald House would like to acknowledge and thank Charles Sturt University for the Health and Wellbeing Grant that we received through the Community-University Partnership Grants program,” she said.