Anna Wilding awards Scholarship for 13 year old gymnast
On 5th August Anna Wilding, Founder of the www.wildingfoundation.com and internationally known Actress,Director and
Producer, shall be awarding the Foundation's - *Anthony Wilding Scholarship for Prowess in Sport *to 13year old
Charlotte Sullivan.
Charlotte is a world class gymnast, and one of NZ's top 3 gymnasts.Charlotte beat out many other countries come in 3rd
recently in Championships in Melbourne.Charlotte has now been selected to compete and represent New Zealand in the
Commonwealth Youth Games on the Isle of Man, off the coast of Scotland in September 2011. Charlotte aims for the Rio De
Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
Anna Wilding came across and discovered Charlotte quite simply and
serendipously.
Anna was in The Drawing Room Art Supply store, that has re opened in the former CBD red zone, shopping for supplies,when
she came across a colour photocopied flyer posted to the bench. The flyer featured Charlotte who was selling chocolates
for 2.00 to raise money for her forthcoming trip.
Ms Wilding was touched by the flyer, the tenacity ,determination, and hard work shown by Charlotte and of course
impressed with her obvious talent.
Ms Wilding contacted the store's owner ,Paul, to find out where she could locate Charlotte to discuss awarding a
scholarship. Ms Wilding then completed more due diligence and was impressed .Ms Wilding, who co incidentially had a
meeting with her Board Members/Trustees that following day,was able to approve a Scholarship the next day to give
Charlotte added incentive and enable Charlotte to attend the Youth Games.
The Anthony Wilding Scholarship for Prowess in Sport is to give faith hope and opportunity to individuals of all
backgrounds to succeed regardless of circumstance. The over all purpose of the charity is to provide opporuntiy to those
of exceptional talents who dreams, hopes and talents could not otherwise be realised due to economics, geographic
locations or other such factors.The charity is to raise the well being of,and empower the individual and create equal
opportunity for New Zealanders here and abroad.Ms WIling set up the Foundation in her own name,on her won merits and
fulfilled a long held dream in doing so,to help those of exceptional talent falling through the cracks in NZ,as she had
herself ,due to economic factors and due to illness in the famaly, as a ranked junior rising tennis star. However,as Ms
Wilding's great uncle won Wimbledon ten times, Ms Wilding honours also him and Cora Wilding,in the Foundation and it's
Scholarships.
Since the start of the earthquakes, Anna has been fundraising and adminstering funds, in a very hands on way,throughout
Christchurch ,under its emergency charter, to those in need. Ms Wilding gave up her job in the USA and returned to do
this . Ms Wilding is now, after 4 months, leaving ChCh.The charity will continue to administer funds as and when they
come in.
Ms Wilding has great faith in Charlotte and her abilities and determination. She said" Charlotte lost her training
ground,the QE2 Stadium, and she just got on with it,and I like and understand that attitude. "
Charlotte travelled to Rangiora and even Blenheim to continue training.
Anna Wilding added, " I am very happy we have a deserving Christchurch recipient.This is the best of New Zealand and I
am happy we can support that so Charlotte has an easier time, being present on the international stage."Charlotte has
received no government help or subsidies,as gymnastics is ,yet another sport, not offered funding..Anna Wilding"I hope
there comes a time when all sports are funded to some degree and other disciplines.We also have scholarships in arts,
humanties and sciences"
ends