Charlotte Davitt works with young people as a football and cricket coach, as well as playing herself, and is studying psychology; her grant will fund a program educating young people on the importance of mental health and addressing bullying, plus raising awareness of Australia's Indigenous history.
Kunal Mutrjea has a master's in Construction Management, and a double degree in Building Design and Civil Engineering, but in lockdown he discovered a passion for digital marketing and web design. He wants to build on his self-taught knowledge by studying Digital Marketing Strategy at RMIT, and MVF is very happy to support that goal.
Alex Paporakis works as a medical scientist in the transplant unit of the Red Cross, and aspires to a career in genetic research, but his weekend passion is revegetating city spaces through the group he founded, Urban Bushland Initiative, and helping community feel connected to these wild spaces. His grant funding will help support the Urban Bushland group.
Elite amateur boxer Marissa Williamson was unable to receive her award in person as she was busy training!
Marissa started boxing at 16 to improve her fitness for AFLW, but an injury ended her footy dreams - and boxing opened another door. After 19 fights she won her first Victorian and National titles, in the same year - 2019. She was also named 2019 NAIDOC junior Sportsperson of the Year. In 2020 Marissa exited the foster care system at 18 just as COVID hit, making her homeless, but she stuck with her training and is working with a new coach to take her to the next level. Her grant will help support her ongoing training costs.
MVF is pleased to support all these young Melburnians in their pursuit of excellence, and wishes them all well for the future.