Young Aucklanders given chance to pursue Passions

On November 11, 2006 the Mount Eden Village Business Association will gift a donation of $2000 to the newly founded Maxine van der Velden Memorial Charitable Trust; to help young Aucklanders achieve their dreams.

The Business Association is gifting the first donation because it believes the Trust and its ‘Maxine Scholarship’ will provide a vital resource to Auckland Youth, aiding the development of their talents with financial aid (by lessening the financial burden).

The Trust has been set up in memory of Maxine van der Velden, a much loved Mount Eden resident, who was tragically killed in a hit and run accident in 2002, aged 19.

“Ultimately the trust hopes to motivate and inspire young Aucklanders in memory of Maxine, who was destined for such great things herself” says Maxine’s father and trustee Jan Van der Velden.

The Maxine Scholarship is available to youth between 15 and 20 years old, living in the Greater Auckland region, to pursue their passions in academic fields, sport and the arts.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and that is what Jan and Wilhelmina van der Velden, together with the Mt Eden Village Business Association, believe will come true following their launch of the “Maxine Scholarship” on November 11, 2006.

The “Maxine Van Der Velden Charitable Memorial Trust” has been set up in memory of an inspirational Mt Eden teenager whose life and dreams came to a tragic end after a hit and run accident in October 2004.

"Maxine was especially well-known and loved in the Mt Eden community, leading us to establish the trust in her memory” says trustee Maureen Keene.

The stated aim of the scholarship is to advance education, development and training of young Aucklanders between the ages of 15 and 20 years. The trust plans to award up to $2000 towards the recipients chosen area of interest, allowing young Aucklanders to flourish as Maxine once did.

The scholarship grant can be put toward any particular pursuit including academic studies, trade, music, drama, the arts, fashion, or sports training; making it a unique scholarship in comparison to most that are currently available.

“Ultimately the trust hopes to motivate and inspire young Aucklanders in memory of Maxine, who was destined for such great things herself” says Maxine’s father and trustee Jan Van der Velden.

The first deadline for applications is January 25, 2007. Scholarship application forms will be made available at Tesori, 409 Mt Eden rd, Mt Eden, or online at www.mounteden.co.nz from November 11, 2006.

Visit http://www.mounteden.co.nz, link ‘Maxine Trust’, for more information.

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