Local charities continue to feel the effects of the pandemic, seeing increased needs and costs at a time when many have experienced a decline in donations, particularly those that rely on in-person fundraising events and ticket sales.

This makes the Taranaki Foundation’s latest grants particularly needed and timely with 28 local organisations receiving funding. Grants awarded ranged from $1,000 to $7,000, all responding to the current needs and realities of our community.

Mark Bowden, Chair of Taranaki Foundation’s Distribution Committee, says the organisation received a record number of funding applications for their annual funding round, with requests far outweighing the available funding.

“There were applications from a wide variety of organisations, all of whom play a vital role in a thriving community sector. These grants reflect the culmination of a huge collective effort from our Distribution Committee whose wealth of knowledge in the charitable sector determines where the funding will go,” says Bowden.

These grants included $68,000, awarded on behalf of The Tindall Foundation, for which Taranaki Foundation acts as one of their community partners and Local Allocation Committee in the distribution of the regional funding. The Tindall Foundation is a private philanthropic family foundation working throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The Taranaki regional funding is distributed through the Family/Whānau focus area.

Among those to receive regional funding was Taranaki Women’s Refuge as part of the regional local funding, providing support to families living with family harm. Shona Smith, Relationships Manager, Taranaki Women’s Refuge says,

“We were so happy to have been granted funding support from The Tindall Foundation for our Aspire Men’s Programme. It is a particularly difficult time for funders and not for profit organisations, so recognition of the importance of this work is significant. These funds will allow us to continue to provide support for men who want to change the way they think, feel and behave in relationships, which ultimately contributes to safer, healthier families by interrupting the cycle of violence.”

Other groups to benefit from The Tindall Foundation funding this year include: Big Brothers Big Sisters Taranaki, Zeal Education Trust, Rongo Taua Charitable Trust and Dress for Success.

 

 

 

Taranaki Foundation is currently securing and growing the assets that will fund great local causes in the future.  Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we currently have a modest annual distribution programme. Among those to recently receive a grant was Horses Helping Humans Taranaki, Hōiho Hāpai Hapori.

Laura Menzies, Lead Facilitator, Horses Helping Humans Taranaki, says: “We are so thankful for the $1500 grant from the Taranaki Foundation. The money will contribute to our annual hay bill for our herd of six horses, so that we can continue to deliver our programme to vulnerable taiohi (teenagers) across the Taranaki region.”

Other areas of the community to benefit from Taranaki Foundation funding this year include: Hospice Taranaki, Access Radio Taranaki Trust, Surfing Taranaki, Te Puna Trust – Nurture Taranaki, Box Office Boxing, Central Taranaki Riding for the Disabled, Awatuna & District Playcentre, YMCA Taranaki, Family Works Taranaki and Blue Light Te Ara Tika Driving Programme.

 

Additionally, through the generosity of one of our Taranaki Foundation pass-through donors we are also able to distribute a total of $10,500 via our Hearing and Visually Impaired Fund. This This allowed six individuals to purchase specialist equipment ranging from fire alarms, hearing aids, a laptop, an exercise bike and an iPad.

Josh Hickford, Chief Executive, Taranaki Foundation says, “The Taranaki Foundation team is honoured to make these distributions on behalf of our donors, who all care deeply about our community. We are proud to represent these generous people, who are modest, thoughtful New Zealanders who have such a tremendous love for the place where they live.”

 

Click here  for a full list of Taranaki Foundation 2021 funding recipients.