Media release

30 October 2012

Fund donates another $1 million to Canterbury communities

Cycling tracks for young Cantabrians, rebuilding ropes courses and funding counselling services are amongst the many Canterbury community and youth facilities that have today received more than $1.1 million in grants from the Vodafone Foundation Canterbury Fund.

66 community groups successfully applied for support from the $4 million joint initiative between the Vodafone Foundation and the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust. The fund was established last year to help rebuild Christchurch communities, places and services.

Te Ora Hou Otautahi Community Services, General Manager says the Fund grant will be a real boost both to his organisation and other community agencies.

“A new facility will not only assist the delivery of our programmes, but we can make space available for a number of other smaller agencies as well so this grant has some real ripple effects in servicing youth in our communities,” he said.

Canterbury Secondary School Mountain Bike Club spokesperson, Andrea Murray, says her organisation was delighted to find in the Vodafone Foundation Canterbury Fund an organisation that shares its passion for positivity and change.

“The pump tracks that are being funded with our grant will help young people stay active in their communities. We want to make a difference and it is great to have support for that vision from the Fund,” she said.

Vodafone CEO Russell Stanners says he is delighted such a wide range of community organisations have been supported in the 2012 allocation.

“We are continuing in our quest to make a difference to as many people as possible, with a particular focus on youth. These grants will have a positive impact on thousands of Cantabrians, from helping to rebuild the Redcliffs Public Library, to the establishment of a creative outlet for young people through a focussed youth “gap filler” programme to counselling services for young people coping with the effects of the earthquakes. This round of funding has been announced at a time when the projects funded in the 2011 funding round are coming to fruition and starting to have a real impact in their target communities.”

Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trustee, Dr Rod Carr agrees: “Canterbury's recovery depends as much on supporting people as it does on rebuilding facilities and infrastructure. Trustees are pleased that many grassroots organisations are recipients of the 2012 Canterbury Fund, including a large number that support Canterbury youth."

The Vodafone Foundation Canterbury Fund received nearly 300 applications for grants in the 2012 round. Successful recipients have received grants between $5,000 and $50,000.

The inaugural grants awarded in 2011 delivered $1 million to a wide range of community projects and services.

About the Fund

The Vodafone Foundation Canterbury Fund was established as a joint initiative between the Vodafone Foundation and the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust to respond to quake related need. The fund offers grants to charitable and not-for-profit organisations with a particular focus on youth and/or small capital/infrastructure projects.

Vodafone Foundation donated $2 million to the fund and this was matched by the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust, bringing the total balance of the Canterbury Fund to $4 million. For information on future funding rounds please see the Vodafone Foundation website.

ENDS

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