Giving Day 2026

In 2025, our community came together to change lives through the Community Scholarship. This year, we united behind another important goal: investing in the future of Keysborough. Under the theme Play It Forward, our 2026 Giving Day was a wonderful celebration of what makes the Mentone Grammar community so special, bringing together students, staff, parents, alumni and friends of the School with a shared purpose to kickstart the future of Keysie.

From the moment the day began, there was a real sense of energy and community spirit across the School. Students of all ages embraced the occasion through a range of activities, challenges and fundraising initiatives, while staff enthusiastically joined in the fun, including some memorable inflatable races that quickly became a crowd favourite. Across the campuses, classrooms, sporting spaces and community areas, the day provided countless opportunities for students and staff to connect, contribute and celebrate together.

A COMMUNITY IN ACTION
Giving Day was also a true team effort behind the scenes. Staff, parents and alumni volunteers gave their time to support the event, assisting with phone calls, running activities, cooking hundreds of sausages, serving coffee or helping coordinate the many moving parts that make an event of this scale possible. The willingness of so many members of the community to step forward and help was a powerful reminder of the strong culture of generosity and service that exists at Mentone Grammar.

Most importantly, Giving Day highlighted the deep connection our community has with Keysborough, which is more than just a sporting venue. It’s where House spirit comes alive, where teams grow together and friendships are forged, where families gather to cheer from the sidelines, and where lifelong memories are made.

THE POWER OF GIVING
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of The Mentonians Association, every gift was matched dollar for dollar, helping raise more than $276,000 for the future of Keysborough. This impressive total was further strengthened by several significant contributions, including $10,000 from the Mentone Hockey Club and $5,000 from the Parents & Friends group, together with two generous gifts of $25,000 from two proud Mentonians and their families.

These extraordinary gifts played a pivotal role in the success of Giving Day and demonstrate the strong sense of connection, pride and generosity that exists within the Mentone Grammar community. They will have a lasting impact as we look to commence Stage 1 of the Keysborough Master Plan with a focus on the Hockey and Soccer precinct.

PLAYING IT FORWARD TOGETHER
While the fundraising result was outstanding, the true success of the day was the way our community came together in support of a shared vision. Giving Day demonstrated the power of collective effort and the enduring connection so many people feel to Mentone Grammar.

To everyone who volunteered, donated or participated, thank you. Together, we have taken an important step towards ensuring future generations of students and alumni can enjoy the same opportunities, experiences and sense of belonging that have made Keysborough such a special part of the Mentone Grammar story.