KAZCARE Educational Facility founder Peter Kazacos is the Southern Highlands Foundation Philanthropist of the Year.
Mr Kazacos received his award from NSW Governor and Southern Highlands Foundation Patron-In-Chief Marie Bashir at a ceremony at Milton Park on Saturday evening.
The Philanthropy Awards honour the significant service, efforts and contributions of those involved in philanthropy.
They celebrate of the outstanding contribution of time, leadership and financial support made by the many wonderful businesses, individuals, volunteers community organisations and schools in the Southern Highlands.
Mr Kazacos was recognised for sharing his entrepreneurial skills with the community and his support for youth, the Ted Kennedy Aboriginal Fund, family and disability support services and medical research.
Mr Kazacos and his wife Vicki purchased the former Rudolph Steiner School in Kirkham Road in May and have created the Kazcare Education Facility, offering a mix of education services and community facilities and a venue for community markets.
Mr Kazacos said he was pleasantly surprised to received the prestigious award and honoured to be recognised with others who have given a lot of the community.
He said the Kazcare Educational Facility was starting to become known by the community.
“We are starting to get a lot of people come and have a look at the space,” he said.
“Interaction between the groups is what we would like to see happening.
“We enjoy our time in the Southern Highlands and hope that Kazcare will grow to be used in the community.”
2ST radio personality Graeme Day was highly commended in the Philanthropist of the Year award for his support for numerous community groups and charities, in particular the Queen Street Centre in Moss Vale, and for “giving a voice to individuals who would not otherwise be heard”.
BDCU received the Corporate Philanthropist Award for its work in raising more than $400,000 to equip and furnish the new children’s ward at the Bowral Hospital, through the BDCU Children’s Foundation.
Philanthropic Volunteers of the year were Angus Malcolm, a volunteer with Riding for the Disabled for 35 years, and Jenny MacLennan for her work for various charities.
Professor Bashir congratulated all the award winners for inspiring and bringing the community together for their causes.
“Every one of them has made an incredible contribution to this community,” she said.
Southern Highlands Foundation chairman Peter Evans said the judges were overwhelmed with the variety of people and companies nominated.
The Southern Highlands Foundation (formerly the Wingecarribee Community Foundation) supports youth projects (through MAD Youth), training and assistance for carers, training of palliative and aged care nurses and Aboriginal projects and awards a scholarship to assist young arts students.