Donor Story: South Canterbury District Health Board

This story starts back in 2011, when the Aoraki Foundation and South Canterbury District Health Board (SCDHB) were engaging about the possibility of fundraising for a MRI Scanner. High level conversations were had between the SCDHB Chief Executive, Chris Fleming and respective board members from each organisation. During one of these many conversations, the value of the gifts the Health Board received came up.

"From time to time patients or their families would donate funds to the South Canterbury District Health Board in appreciation for services we have provided to them, or their loved ones." - Chris Fleming

These donations had built up to a considerable sum over the years, more than $550,000. As tempting as it would have been to put these donated funds towards the MRI project, that was never considered as both parties wanted to respect the original wishes of the donors. However, the SCDHB were finding it increasingly hard to manage and distribute these donations. With the help of the Aoraki Foundation they saw an opportunity to start a community health fund that could attract further gifts in time. So a steering group was put together by the SCDHB and the Aoraki Foundation to establish a Health Endowment Fund for the people of South Canterbury.

This everlasting fund would support the general health and well-being needs of the community, over and above the excellent services already provided by the SCDHB.

In April 2013 approximately $570,000 was donated from the SCDHB to the Aoraki Foundation and the South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund was formalised.

"There was a lot of effort put in by many people to get the health fund established. The benefits to the community in time will show that effort was not wasted" - Ron Luxton, Board member SCDHB

The Aoraki Foundation in collaboration with the SCDHB established a separate committee featuring health professionals to oversee the fund and in particular the distribution of the grants. Since the first grant in 2015 the South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund has distributed over $465,000 to the community.

The changes to the health system in June 2021 brought to an end the long and fruitful relationship the Aoraki Foundation have had with the SCDHB. We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the SCDHB and all those involved for the vision, commitment, and endeavour you brought to this partnership. We also welcome the new partnership with Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ, and look forward to continuing to bring better health outcomes to the the South Canterbury community.