Giving Day 2025
On Wednesday 3 September, the Mentone Grammar community came together in a powerful display of generosity and shared purpose for our inaugural Giving Day.
This vibrant 12-hour campaign was dedicated to supporting our Community Scholarship program, opening doors for two students entering Year 9 each year, young people with real potential who, without this support, would never have the opportunity to attend our School.
By establishing an annual Giving Day, we are creating a powerful tradition, an opportunity for our entire community to unite behind a shared purpose. This year, that purpose was to support the life-changing gift of a Mentone Grammar education through our new Community Scholarship.
While the inspiration for this initiative came from an extraordinarily generous major donor, sustaining the scholarship into the future will require ongoing collective support. This year marked a bold and meaningful step toward equity, inclusion, and our School’s enduring commitment to service.
The generosity of our major donor, whose connection to Mentone Grammar spans three generations, set the tone for the day. Their contribution ensured that every donation was tripled, magnifying the impact of every gift and inspiring others to give generously.
From heartfelt messages of encouragement to some friendly House competition, Giving Day became a celebration of community, compassion, and shared purpose, a living testament to what we can achieve together.
Students Leading the Spirit of Giving
Our students from ELC – Year 12 played a central role in Giving Day, embracing the spirit of service with enthusiasm and creativity. Across all campuses, students were encouraged to make their own contributions, no matter how small, knowing that every dollar would be tripled and ultimately change lives. By way of thanks, they enjoyed a variety of fun and engaging activities designed to celebrate their involvement and reinforce the message that giving is a joyful act of service.
From a Crazy Hair Day in the ELC to an Eblana ‘thank you’ pancake breakfast cooked by the Year 12s, and a Greenways Market Day lunch, each campus found a special way to celebrate the day. Every activity was a powerful reminder that generosity isn’t measured by the size of the gift, but by the spirit in which it is given. Our students learned that service is a shared responsibility, and that even the smallest act of kindness can help shape a brighter future.
Celebrating Milestones
As we worked toward our ambitious goal of $300,000, we celebrated key milestones at 25%, 50%, and 75%, each one energising our community and fueling the excitement.
Then came a remarkable moment: a second major donor, a proud Mentonian from the Class of 1992, who stepped forward with an incredible $50,000 gift, launching us into a bonus round and extending the opportunity to triple donations toward a new target of $450,000.
As the campaign drew to a close, we are thrilled to share that we raised a total of $415,203 from 432 donors with every dollar going directly to support our Community Scholarship.
Special Thanks
We extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible parents, staff, alumni, and past staff who generously volunteered their time on Giving Day and to every single donor who gave with heart and purpose. Your belief in the transformative power of education is truly changing lives.
Giving Day was far more than a fundraising event. It was a vibrant reflection of Mentone Grammar’s values in action, a celebration of community, generosity, and shared purpose. It reminded us that service is not only about giving money, but about opening doors to opportunity and shaping futures filled with possibility.
Most of all, it reaffirmed a powerful truth: service to others is one of the greatest legacies we can leave behind. Thank you for showing us what that legacy looks like and for being part of something truly extraordinary.