A commitment by the Lewis Land Group to a perpetual sponsorship of $2500 a year for the Hastings Education Fund (HEF) was announced at the Charles Sturt University campus by the chief executive officer, Chris Calvert.

"The Sovereign Hills project is going to be a part of the Port Macquarie community for many years to come, and we want to support the younger members of our community to achieve their goals,” Mr Calvert said.

“Initiatives such as the Hastings Education Fund provide a great opportunity for this.”

This year the fund supported 31 local school leavers with grants totalling over $60,000. These grants are assisting local students to pursue courses in a wide range of fields including medicine, engineering, science, nursing, teaching and music.

Some of the grant recipients are studying locally while many other have travelled to metropolitan centres and interstate to study the course of their choice.

HEF gives priority to assisting young people who have a need for support in order for them to pursue their career goal, as well as an outstanding commitment to that goal.

“The Lewis Land Group’s decision to assist local students to transition to further education and training through their support of the HEF, shows that they are a business that is prepared to give back to the local community,” explains Hastings Education Fund chairman, Jim O’Brien.

“Many more wonderful young people applied for grants which we could not support.

“With more sponsors like the Sovereign Hills developers, HEF is able to provide greater assistance to more of our local school leavers.”