A charitable foundation built on compassion, connection, and community.
The Mountain Blue Foundation exists to make a meaningful difference, locally and overseas. As the charitable arm of Mountain Blue, we’re driven by the belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and care. Our mission is simple: to uplift lives through sustainable programs, transparent giving, and genuine connection.
For more than three decades, Mountain Blue has been supporting disadvantaged communities with dignity and care. For as long as we’ve been committed to producing the highest quality berries, we’ve also been putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to supporting communities.
The Mountain Blue Foundation was created to bring focus to that mission. As a dedicated charitable foundation, we coordinate and fund charitable initiatives across the Northern Rivers region and in communities overseas. From local food pantries and housing support to health and education partnerships in Africa, our work is guided by compassion and dignity.
We believe that meaningful impact comes not from scale, but from authenticity. Each project we support, from a single meal served to a student’s scholarship, represents a real story of hope, resilience, and community.
Together with our partners, we continue to build pathways for lasting change. Our story is still being written one act of kindness at a time.
Behind every program, partnership, and initiative are people who care deeply about others. Our board and staff bring decades of experience across community development, agriculture, health, and education, united by a shared vision of impact with integrity.
Our board oversees the Foundation’s strategy, governance, and direction, ensuring that every initiative we undertake aligns with our purpose and values.
ACNC Registered Charity
ensuring all donations are handled transparently and ethically.
Ridley Bell is the Founder of Mountain Blue Orchards, and holds the honour of introducing the first blueberry to Australia in 1976. Since then he has worked to continually improve the flavour, texture and size of blueberries – a focus that has seen him drive Australia’s blueberry breeding program, and cemented Mountain Blue’s reputation as an innovator and market leader within the industry. His Eureka variety is now farmed across the globe.
Ridley and his wife, Mieke, have decades of commitment to supporting charitable works amongst disadvantaged people in the northern New South Wales region, and in communities around the world.
Founder, Mountain Blue Orchards
Johanna (Mieke) Bell has been undertaking social work for several decades. Mieke is the President of the Lismore Soup Kitchen, which is dedicated to providing meals, accommodation support, and social support to those in need.
Under her leadership, the Soup Kitchen has grown to serve hundreds of individuals weekly, offering not only nourishing food but also a welcoming environment for those facing hardships and social isolation. Mieke’s compassionate leadership and advocacy have strengthened the community fabric of Lismore, fostering a sense of dignity and belonging for all who seek assistance.
In 2024 Mieke Bell was named Lismore City Council’s Citizen of the Year. Local elected officials have called the Lismore Soup Kitchen “a port of first call for marginalised people in the community, and a beacon of hope for the whole community.”
President, Lismore Soup Kitchen
Andrew Young has served as the Property Manager for the Diocese of Lismore for more than 13 years. Andrew’s dedication to fostering positive change extends to his involvement in charitable projects that address local needs.
His leadership has been instrumental in facilitating the use of diocese properties for charitable initiatives, including providing housing for families in crisis, supporting disaster relief efforts, and hosting community outreach programs. He has overseen the establishment of temporary accommodations for flood victims and worked to repurpose vacant properties into community spaces for non-profit organizations.
Property Manager, Diocese of Lismore
Elliot Costello is the Cofounder & CEO of Phantm – a climate technology firm focused on replacing harmful plastic materials in our society and supporting Australian companies to reduce packaging footprints.
Elliot was the Founding CEO of ygap, which supported people in some of the world’s toughest communities by backing impact enterprises that provide safe housing, job opportunities, and educational programs. ygap is best known for its innovative Polished Man campaign and Feast of Merit social enterprise.
Co-founder and CEO of Phantm
