Notice Board - News

SKYCITY grants almost 3 million dollars

SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust, Auckland

Ninety-eight community groups and charitable organisations across Auckland and Northland are celebrating as SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust announces close to $3 million worth of funding in its 11th annual funding round.

The grants range in amount from two grants of $250,000 awarded to the Auckland Art Gallery and St Patrick's Cathedral Heritage Foundation towards their building developments to $600 for SPELD Association in Franklin to purchase updated reading resources.

Other highlights include:

• $100,000 for the Louise Perkins Foundation — an organisation who aim to improve the well being of patients suffering from breast cancer — to purchase new equipment;
• $100,000 for MOTAT to assist with the extension of the present tramway;
• $22,500 so that the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind can breed, train and match one guide puppy to a client;
• five new yachts will be purchased by Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of NZ with a grant of $71,750; and
• Variety — The Children's Charity will be installing 'liberty swings' — a swing designed for use by children in wheelchairs — in the Auckland region with a grant of $47,219.

Jock Irvine, Chairperson of SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust says that he is delighted at the wide range of organisations that will benefit.

"Successful recipients come from various sectors including arts, culture and entertainment; community; education; health, welfare and medical; rescue and emergency; family, group and individual support; and tourism," says Mr. Irvine.

The total value of grants awarded is $2,930,924 which brings the total amount the Trust has distributed since Round One in 1996 to $15 million, through 822 grants.

The SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust was voluntarily established in 1996, as part of SKYCITY Auckland's casino license application process, in order to provide funds for community and charitable purposes. Funds available for distribution are 2.5% of the net annual profit from SKYCITY Auckland or a minimum of $500,000 per annum.

Different highlights for the different regions are below.

For further information please contact:

Carla Ellerby,
Communications Executive
SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Details below. 

Highlights by region:

Other Central Auckland highlights include:

• $150,000 for the Starship Foundation towards the Diabetes School Education and Management programme;
• Cure Kids will use a grant of $30,000 towards research into type 1 diabetes in children;
• Auckland Museum will receive $100,000 towards the construction of a stage and feature lighting for their Stage II Grand Atrium Project; and the
• New Zealand Opera Limited’s grant of $50,000 will enable them to provide creative workshops, tour regional schools and provide online study guides.

South Auckland highlights include:

• $5,000 towards Manukau City Orchestral Society’s ‘Have a go” weekend workshop which allows amateur and student musicians from the community to experience playing with a symphony orchestra;
• $10,500 for Mt Richmond Special School in Otahuhu to enable students to attend Riding for the Disabled classes;
• South Auckland Health Foundation has been awarded $150,000 towards the community dental clinic in Mangere;
• Pacific Foundation of New Zealand will be building a new playground for the Papakura Family Service Centre assisted by a $10,000 grant;
• $25,000 to the Books in Prison Trust will help with the set up of a new library service in the new South Auckland Women’s Prison; and
• SPELD Manukau City Inc. will purchase a specialised kit which measures reading and oral abilities through a $2,511 grant.

West Auckland highlights include:

• new mountain bikes for Te Atatu’s Adventure Specialties Trust through a $6,120 grant;
• $8,667 for 70 new emergency lights for Auckland Land Search & Rescue (the majority of searches are in the Waitakere Ranges);
• Avondale Communicare Day Centre will use a $1,500 grant for two bus outings for the elderly and disabled;
• the Life Education Trust Waitakere will receive $20,000 enabling them to give reference books to children as part of their life education programme;
• Unitec will be putting a $100,000 grant towards the development of a marae within the grounds of the campus; and the
• Friendship Centre Trust will use $35,000 to assist with their rehousing project in Glen Eden.

East Auckland highlights include:

• $30,000 for Howick Historical Village towards restoration;
• $9,100 to assist with Maungarei Community Christian Trust’s ‘Food for thought’ initiative which takes place in Mt Wellington primary schools;
• 40 new music stands will be purchased by Pakuranga Band Inc. with a $3,022 grant; and
• SeniorNet (Pakuranga) Inc. will use their $3,600 grant for new equipment for their training courses which they provide to people over 55 years of age.

North Shore highlights include:

• $7,500 for new electric beds and pressure mattresses for the patients of the Hibiscus Coast Hospice Charitable Trust;
• $30,000 towards Takapuna’s Lake House Trust’s restoration project;
• North Shore Theatre & Arts Trust “The Pumphouse” will purchase new safety and security equipment with a $18,398 grant;
• the North Shore Youth Band will use a $2,000 grant to purchase new music; and
• Wilson School in Takapuna will receive a $70,000 grant for a customised vehicle which will transport wheelchair bound children on outings.

Northland highlights include:

• $5,935 for Kerikeri’s Far North Search and Rescue Organisation Inc. to purchase torches, GPS tracking units and radio aerials;
• a new cardiovascular strategy machine which will test the condition of patients’ hearts will be purchased by Hokianga Hospital Auxiliary Inc. with a $2,700 grant;
• the Hokianga Festival Society Inc. put $5,000 towards the ‘Jazz in June’ festival;
• Dargaville’s Kumarani Productions will purchase new equipment for their school with a $50,049 grant; for Whangarei Life Education Trust a grant of $5,361 will enable them to hand out their reference books to children; and
• the Whangarei Riding Therapy Centre will repair essential equipment with a grant of $3,785.