Partners for the 2025 Canberra Community Chest announced
The first 11 charity and community partners for the 2025 Canberra Community Chest have been decided.
The Canberra Community Chest is a feature race, held on Sunday, 23 November that includes a $50,000 charity prize pool for 12 organisations who deliver meaningful benefit to the community.
An independent selection committee had the difficult task of selecting 11 from dozens of wonderful applications from organisations who deliver broad value to the Canberra and equine communities.
The first 11 partners are:
- ACT Pet Crisis Support
- Bosom Buddies
- Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
- Equine Pathways Australia
- Palliative Care ACT
- Pegasus Riding for the Disabled
- Project Independence
- Respite Care for Queanbeyan
- Rise Above – Capital Region Cancer Relief
- The Shepherd Centre
- Water Wombats - Aquatic Disability Services
All eligible organisations who applied but were not selected will now enter a People’s Choice Award to determine the 12th and final partner. This vote will go live tomorrow at Thoroughbredpark.com.au.
A third-time applicant but first-time partner, the Water Wombats Aquatic Disability Services’ Carol Jennings said, “This is just a brilliant concept that brings the community together.”
Water Wombats is dedicated to providing inclusive, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming programs that support children’s development in and out of the water.
“This support means that we can continue to sponsor places in our programs which has become increasingly harder for more families.” Jennings said.
Carol Jennings, a finalist for ACT Woman of the Year in 2025, is excited about the announcement saying, “This gives us such a great opportunity to help our community and there’s multiple layers of support.”
“The prizepool can a make a big difference but this partnership helps us promote our programs to a wider community.”
Canberra Racing Club Chief Executive Darren Pearce said, “This event has quickly become a favourite for our team and community.”
“The opportunity to give back to these meaningful organisations, while introducing our sport to these new communities, is a special one and our entire team leave this day with a big smile on our faces.”
“I wish each of our partners the best of luck at the draw and in the race, at likewise, I wish our applicants who now enter the People’s Choice Award good luck in the community voting process.”
The first placed partner will receive $25,000 to support their programs. Each of the partners will walk away from the Community Chest with something, with last place receiving $1,000 as well as a special experience for their community.