Good causes fund subsidises Eurovision and MEPs

This emerges from the Income and Expenditure Balances of the fund for 2010.

Catholic organisations were among the main recipients of this fund.

The Tabgha Foundation (Youth Fellowship) were given €20,000 to fund their Announcing Christ in Schools (ACTS) project aimed at “supporting secondary school children to face life changes through the rediscovery of Christian values.”

The Catholic Institute was given €4,000 to organise its 50th anniversary concert.

Another significant donation of €30,000 was given to the Convent of the Sacred Heart for the resurfacing of the school’s playground.

Recipients included Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil and Labour MEP Louis Grech, who were given €20,000 to organise Malta Week in the European Parliament.

Various sports clubs and philanthropic organisations also benefited from donations.

The largest beneficiary in 2010 was Wirt Artna, which was given €70,000 for the development of a Malta Military Heritage Park in the Lascaris War Rooms.

Various other sports clubs, restoration projects and social cases benefited from the fund. The Qormi football club benefited from a €45,000 donation for the improvement of its pitch while the Zebbug football was given €30,000 for the same reason.

The first Maltese team to climb Everest was also given €10,000.

The National Lotteries Good Causes Fund – which falls under the Ministry of Finance – was set up to help out “individuals, agencies or organisations that have a social, cultural, educational, sport, philanthropic or religious activity.”

The Fund generates its income through a percentage contributed from the amount of tax payable from gaming activity and unclaimed prizes. Anybody can apply for funds by submitting an application form.