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CEO Climbs Snowdon in aid of Drake Foundation July 2010

THE man behind a city charity which gives money back to the community is going that extra mile in his fundraising mission.

Steve Davis, CEO of the Drake Foundation, a Plymouth organisation that provides grants to groups, is climbing Mount Snowdon, Wales, in aid of the charity.

"The Royal Mail have agreed to match the money I raise and then the Government will match my final total," said Steve. "For every £5 donated, Royal Mail will match to £10 and then the Government will match the £10 to £20."

Steve intends to scale the mountain 14th July. Support him at www.sponsor-me.org/drakesnowdon

Plymstock School sets up an Acorn Fund June 2010

THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised by a city school to help community groups in Plymouth flourish.

Plymstock School recently handed over a cheque for £1,600 to the Drake Foundation, adding to the extra £700 it has raised over recent months in money-making drives, including taking part in the Plymouth Half Marathon, a doughnut-eating competition and even a sponsored skydive.

Thanks to Government funding, the money will be matched to £4,600 which will be used to support worthwhile groups across Plymouth, from learning disability theatre groups to the refurbishment of parish centres.

Steve Davis, chief executive of the Drake Foundation, said: "I'm absolutely astounded by the work Plymstock School has done and everyone who helped raise money by completing the half marathon.

"I must give special thanks to Emily Trump who found 15 willing runners to take part from Plymstock School."

He said that through the funds, the school was now able to set up an Acorn Fund with the Drake Foundation, allowing the pupils to have a say on where the money they raise was used.

Plymstock School has been supporting the Drake Foundation for about nine months and one of the many imaginative ways it has raised money for the community group is through a sponsored skydive, carried out by brave pupil Oli Milroy who raised £500.

"It was an incredible experience defeating my own fears of heights," he said. "I'm really pleased that my money went towards building the Acorn Fund so we can trace how our donations are being used within Plymouth."

Runners don red to flag up Drake Foundation May 2010

BUSINESS leaders and a group of city school pupils are taking part in this year's Plymouth Half Marathon in aid of the Drake Foundation. Come race day, 32 athletes will be wearing the our logo on their running vests, all hoping to raise hundreds of pounds in its name.

Thirteen pupils from Plymstock School's sixth form will also be pounding the streets for the Drake Foundation on May 30.

"All of the money raised will be matched and used to support local volunteer and community groups around Plymouth," said Steve.

Supporting the runners in their fundraising efforts are SLS Electrical, Tamar Science Park, Plymstock School, Bright LLP, Langage Farm, Cotswold Outdoor and Redrok.

"What is really important to me is that we are a Plymouth-based charity which solely supports Plymouth, and due to our core sponsors Royal Mail, Tamar Science Park, South West Water and Formedia we don't have any overhead cost," said Steve.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Drake Foundation, or who wants more details about the organisation, can call 01752 764455 or visit www.drakefoundation.co.uk.

Plymouth Foodbank May 2010

This is the Plymouth Foodbank, a project that opened its doors 18 months ago to give short-term support to people in desperate need of nutritious food and a listening ear.

People from all backgrounds walk through the doors of the Foodbank, from recovering alcoholics and drug addicts to people struggling with debt or those who have lost a life-long job to the recession. Offering non-judgemental help and support is centre manager Maria Mills. "It's much more than food; that's an important part, but so much more is about valuing people," she said.

Since the Foodbank opened its doors, it has given food parcels to more than 3,000 people: and since September the service has handed out 1,200 packs, 377 of them to children.

Maria explained that people visited the Foodbank after being referred there by a number of agencies in the city, including The Zone and the Citizens' Advice Bureau. They are entitled to three food vouchers a year and the staff and volunteers are quick to stress that they will refuse to give the parcels to people they believe will sell them on, or use them to fuel their addictions.

The city service was recently awarded a £5,000 grant from local organisation the Drake Foundation, money which it will use to expand its food storage space and also to invest in the people who help to run it.

Golf day rasies £1,400 April 2010

The annual Mike Walker Trophy golf day donated all money raised to the Drake Foundation. The event was held at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club and included 18 holes of golf and a meal.

"It was a smashing day," said Mark Andrews who clinched the trophy with golf partner Alastair Ross. "I did the event last year too and it is a great day out and for a good cause as well."

Boost for City Baseball team April 2010

A CITY sports club which has trained world-class players is looking forward to another successful year, thanks to a funding boost.

The South West Baseball Association has been teaching the basics of the American game to city youngsters for years. And since receiving a £5,000 grant from the Devon Community Fund and Drake Foundation, they have been able to continue offering the free fun sporting activity

The team is always on the lookout for more players so to find out more, visit www.plymouthbaseball.org.The team is always on the lookout for more players so to find out more, visit www.plymouthbaseball.org.

The team is always on the lookout for more players so to find out more, visit www.plymouthbaseball.org.

Oli Milory's Skydive March 2010

A YOUNG city fundraiser is on cloud nine after leaping 15,000ft out of an aeroplane for charity. Oli Milroy, aged 16, took part in the skydive in aid of Plymouth organisation the Drake Foundation and the Plymstock School sixth-form pupil managed to raise £500 with more money still coming in.

"The skydive was incredible – absolutely amazing," said Oli.

"It was really quite relaxing going up because it was such a clear day but when the air horn goes off at 14,000 feet and you go over to the edge of the plane that is where it hit me that I was going to jump out of a plane."

Oli was cheered on with his charity skydive by friends and family, as well as Wil Sprenkel, director of post-16 education at the school and Steve Davis, chief executive of the Drake Foundation.

Oli's fundraising efforts are being combined with the school's own charity donation to the Drake Foundation, totalling £1,300