Call for Rochdale entrepreneurs to follow Secret Millionaire lead

The Community Foundation for Greater Manchester is calling on entrepreneurs and millionaires to follow Hilary Devey’s example to support grassroots charities and community projects, after she was seen giving away over £100,000 to good causes in Rochdale on this week's Channel Four programme, The Secret Millionaire.

Commenting on the show, Community Foundation chief executive, Nick Massey said: “While of course I applaud the immense generosity of Hilary Devey I very much hope her experience as part of this programme will prompt other entrepreneurs to follow suit.

“I am truly delighted for the excellent projects which she decided to support as a result of last night’s programme, some of which we have also funded over recent years. What I hope is that what become clear to Hilary, how the right individuals and grassroots organisations can transform a community for the better, will also have become apparent to others watching the programme who could also make a difference in this way.

“While the individuals and projects she chose to support are outstanding, there are hundreds of others, both locally and across the region who desperately need the same kind of financial support.

“What’s more in a pioneering scheme with the government to encourage more local philanthropists and businesses to support local communities The Community Foundation for Greater Manchester is able to match pound for pound any donations made into our endowment fund to support Rochdale during the next three years, making any investment in the borough even more valuable to the communities we are empowering. There has never been a better opportunity to make an impact with a charitable donation; to see your donation double because of Government help is simply unheard of before in the UK.”

In the past 12 months the Community Foundation through the Borough of Rochdale Fund has awarded grants totalling £208,342 to 84 community groups and projects benefiting local Rochdale people. Groups that have recently benefited from funding include the Well Woman’s Centre in Langley, Rochdale Artists, Alkrington Community Association and the Holt Tenants and Residents Association.

To find out how you can help call the Community Foundation on 0161 214 0940.