Foundation gifts more than $40k to community groups, individuals

Barry Vincent, BayTrust Rescue Helicopter base manager, was delighted the chopper was one of the groups awarded funds. PHOTO/FILE

More than $40,000 has been gifted to community groups and rising stars in sport, arts and academia, as local donors support local people.

The awards were presented at the Geyser Community Foundation's "Celebrating Giving" awards function at the Distinction Hotel today.

Chairman Pat Brown said the gifts were possible thanks to the generosity of an increasing number of donors.

"These gifts represent donations from a wide range of local people who want to contribute towards a permanent legacy for the benefit of our community."

He said Geyser's vision was to build substantial endowment funds to meet the needs of the Rotorua and Taupo communities.

"The income from these funds will provide positive, sustainable change in our communities for the long term."

CanTeen Rotorua was awarded $1750 to go towards a youth worker's salary.

Emma Taylor, CanTeen Rotorua's youth support co-ordinator, said the gift was awesome and would enable the organisation to continue supporting young people aged 13 to 24 affected by cancer.

"We are reliant on community support to keep our organisation going," she said.

The organisation covered a large area, from Turangi and Taupo to the Eastern Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, working not only with "amazing" young people in various stages of cancer treatment, but also siblings of those with the disease.

BayTrust Rescue Helicopter base manager Barry Vincent said he was ecstatic to be given $2000 towards the cost of a replacement night vision goggles helmet.

"We can't do what we do without the support of the community," he said. "We're very appreciative."

Geyser trustees have approved gifts totalling more than $210,000 from donor funds this financial year.

Gifts awarded today
Arts Fund
QE Health - Anzac Poppy Day Project: $1500
Rotorua Potters Group - Equipment (slab roller): $750
St Chad's Communication Centre - Pyrography Creative Arts: $750

Rotorua Community Fund
Autism NZ - Operational costs: $750
BayTrust Rescue Helicopter - Night vision goggles helmet: $2000
CanTeen Rotorua - Youth worker salary: $1750
Child Cancer Foundation - Family support co-ordinator: $1250
Girl Guides- Rotorua hall hire: $700
La Leche League Rotorua - Volunteer training and resources: $650
Mokoia Community Association - Volunteer acknowledgement: $650
NZ Centre for Gifted Education - MindPlus Rotorua (intervention programme): $1000
The Parenting Place - Lifeskills presentation to local high schools: $1500
Rotary Clubs of Rotorua (Combined) - KiwiCan Rotorua: $1500
Rotorua Hospital Chaplaincy Trust - Patient emotional care and support: $750
Rotorua Multi Cultural Council - Employment relationship workshop for migrants: $1000
Rotorua SPCA - Community cat and dog de-sexing: $1000
St Chad's Communication Centre - Community connection programme: $1500
Rotorua Victim Support - Volunteer programme: $1000

Geyser Community Foundation Development Awards
Excellence Award
Paddy Baylis, Rotorua - Competitive swimming: $1000
Theo Calkin, Taupo - Physical geography and environment studies: $1000
Ellis Carrington, Rotorua - Classical singing: $1000
Kohutapu Hale, Reporoa - Basketball: $1000
Kesia Kurian, Rotorua - Science: $1000
Samuel Osborne, Rotorua - Triathlon/Duathlon: $1000
Paige Satchell, Rotorua - Football: $1000
Briar Sharples, Rotorua - Medicine: $1000
Joshua Webb, Rotorua - Engineering: $1000
Hyesu Yang, Rotorua - Physics: $1000

Bannan Science Fund
Damian Hewett, Murupara - Medicine: $5000
Maraea Yancey, Murupara - Human Behaviour and Mental Functioning: $5000

Kaingaroa Roading Scholarship
Deidre Monga, Kaingaroa - Nursing: $1250

Speech NZ Fund
Amandeep Kaur Kang: $70
Christine Koller: $131
Celynne Grace Vallejo: $66
Elena Mezentseva: $65
Lily Joy Al Omari: $70
Navjot Kaur: $81
Sharon Pagtolon-An: $80
Lama Tashi: $71

Total gifted at awards function: $41,884
Total approved this financial year: $213,995