2024 funding round gifts $170,000
Community generosity the key to a better South Canterbury.
The Aoraki Foundation’s annual funding round has just been completed, distributing over $170,000 to various charities and projects in South Canterbury. The 2024 funding comes from the Miller General Impact Fund and the South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund, which this year included a significant boost from the Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation.
The Miller General Impact Fund was established in 2013 when a gift to the community from Eric and Queenie Miller was passed to the Aoraki Foundation. This South Canterbury couple pioneered the region’s trucking and transport industry and left their entire estate to the South Canterbury community – through the Aoraki Foundation their generosity continues today and will carry on for generations to come.
Miller General Impact Fund Recipients
Total distributed: $39,961
The Peel Forest Outdoor Pursuits Charitable Trust $5,172
Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust – Swimming $3,479
He Manu Hou Trust $8,000
Mackenzie Recreation Society - Fairlie Kids Club $3,310
Te Aitarakihi Society Incorporated $8,000
Alzheimers South Canterbury $5,000
Life Education Trust Mid and South Canterbury $5,000
Waimate Theatre Company Inc $2,000
The South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund was established through a seed gift from the former South Canterbury District Health Board. The health fund is the single largest fund with over $1 million invested for the community. This year a partnership with the Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation significantly increased the amount available to apply for. Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation Chairperson Sam Hervey said, "The Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation Board is pleased to partner with the Aoraki Foundation to deliver health benefits to our region by donating $100,000 towards the South Canterbury Health Endowment grants.”
This collaborative approach to funding reduces the overhead on applicants saving them from applying to multiple organisations. Sam said, "In previous years we asked health organisations to apply directly to Bidwill for grants, but agreed it was better for applicants to go through a single application structure with the Aoraki Foundation.”
Aoraki Foundation Gift and Community Advisor, Kirsty Burnett, is very grateful for the additional funding, in her words “Bidwill's contribution continues the hospital charitable trust's long history of giving back to our community."
South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund & Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation Recipients
Total distributed: $ 130,052.78
Bowel Cancer Aotearoa Charitable Trust t/a Bowel Cancer NZ $3,000
Stroke Foundation New Zealand $7,000
Cancer Society Canterbury- West Coast Division $15,000
South Canterbury Multiple Sclerosis Society $12,500
The PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation $14,500
Crohn's and Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust $2,520.17
Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust - Give People Support $12,500
Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand Charitable Trust $3,460
The Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa $10,000
Timaru Senior Citizens Association trading as Age Concern South Canterbury $3,000
Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand Trust $5,000
Alzheimers South Canterbury $25,000
Life Education Trust Mid and South Canterbury $10,000
Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ $ 6,572.61
Jo Goodhew, Chairperson of the Aoraki Foundation Distributions Committee and South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund Committee, said we were well over subscribed with applications this year which shows the hard times that local charities are facing. It was a very tough decision for the volunteer committees, but I believe that we have funded the organisations that will make the biggest difference to people in South Canterbury.
The Aoraki Foundation’s annual funding round will next open again in September 2025.