Keeley's Cause is the recipient of $70,000 from 10 Officeworks stores who selected the charity to be part of the Round Up to Make a Difference initiative.

Customers of the stores, including Ballarat, were given the choice to round-up their purchases or donate online.

Keeley's Cause director Sharon Murphy said the donation came at important time as many fundraising events had been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns.

She said the $70,000 would enable the purchase of iPads for 116 children diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities to support their education and communication.

Officeworks Ballarat store business manager Kael Aisbett said it was rewarding to see the passion and commitment from the team to support Keeley's Cause.

"Connecting with the community is important to our team because it gives us the opportunity to give back and help others out," she said.

"Our team now has a greater understanding of autism and intellectual disabilities and how learning needs are very different."

The Officeworks funding will almost double the impact Keeley's Cause has made since the charity was founded by Ballan teenager Keeley Johnson in 2017.

READ MORE: Young charity founder Keeley Murphy nominated for Australian of the Year award

Keeley's Cause has donated 134 iPads in that time, with the presentation of 20 of those on hold due to lockdown.

She said the Officeworks initiative also helped raise the profile of the charity.

"There are so many more people now who know what Keeley's Cause is. It has been phenomenal," Ms Murphy said.

"It is a huge accolade to Keeley's Cause. Officeworks is our first corporate sponsor that has come on board.

"That is 116 iPads Officeworks gets to sponsor and meet the recipients."

Ms Murphy said Keeley's Cause was able to respond to a callout for help from an organisation in Mornington who was trying to secure an iPad for a young girl with autism struggling with communication and learning.

She said the charity would continue to respond to individual needs.

"We had the iPad out to her within a week," she said.

Ms Murphy said lockdown had increased difficulties for some children with autism and intellectual disabilities with changes in routine and a lack of hands on learning, while others were more comfortable to learn from home.

The presentation of iPads to recipients will resume when restrictions allow.

Keeley was a finalist in Victoria's 2021 Young Australian of the Year Awards and received the Diana Award in 2020.

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