Skycity Community Trust Calls For Applications

18 August 2004

Skycity Hamilton Community Trust Calls For Applications

The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust is calling for applications from local community groups in its second year of funding, with advertising appearing in local and regional newspapers this week.

Trust Chairperson Margaret Evans said that organisations seeking funding for community assistance and development work should get their applications in for the Trust’s 2004 funding round before the close-off date of 5.00pm, Thursday 30 September 2004.

“The Trust will consider applications from community and charitable groups planning work that will provide a demonstrable positive benefit to people in the Waikato region. We support a broad range of initiatives, from community projects and tourism programmes to projects that promote arts and culture in New Zealand.

“We expect to have the list of successful applicants confirmed by mid November 2004 with grants being presented to those groups at a special function on Wednesday 8 December,” said Mrs Evans.

Established in May 2003, the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust distributed close to $400,000 to 70 successful recipients in its inaugural funding round last year. Grants ranged from a few hundred dollars through to tens of thousands.

“We have been delighted to see the great work resulting from the contribution of the Trust through its first funding round. The many worthy projects we have supported include assisting Parentline in the management of inappropriate sexual behaviour in pre-adolescent boys, ($20,000), contributing to the purchase of solar heating equipment for Te Kuiti Amateur Swimming Club pool, ($5,000) assisting the Te Awa Trust with their FUEL 4 youth programme as part of the bi-annual FUEL Festival, ($10,000), and a weekly workshop for palliative children and their families called “Rainbow Place”, run by the Waikato Community Hospice Trust, ($7,600),” said Mrs Evans.

Margaret Evans, former Mayor of Hamilton, is joined on the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust board by six local Trustees. They are Jean Vickridge, former Hamilton City Councillor; Peter Richardson of Catholic Social Services; Peter Henson, former General Manager of The Waikato Times; Koro Wetere, former Cabinet Minister and Chair of Tainui Development Limited; John Gallagher of Gallagher Industries, currently Chancellor of the University of Waikato (former Deputy Mayor of Hamilton) and Lynda Keene, former Chief Executive of Tourism Waikato.

SKYCITY Hamilton is part of the SKYCITY Entertainment Group, which established the SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust in 1996 and the SKYCITY Queenstown Community Trust in 2003.

Since its establishment, the SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust has donated more than $15 million dollars to over 600 community groups and organisations in need.

Each year in August/September, the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust will invite applications for grants from charitable organisations and for community initiatives. Funds available for distribution by the Trust are 1.5% of the revenue from SKYCITY Hamilton’s casino operations.

For more information about the Trust, the criteria for applications or for an application form, please go to www.skycityhamilton.co.nz or phone SKYCITY Hamilton on 07 834 4900 or fax 07 834-4901.

ENDS

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