Gisborne’s Sunrise Foundation Announces New Trustee

Gisborne’s Sunrise Foundation Announces New Trustee

The Sunrise Foundation’s newest trustee, Lilian Tangaere Baldwin, is passionate about whanau, marae and hapu development and believes that the Sunrise Foundation has the potential to positively support the smaller communities on the East Coast north of Gisborne.

Lilian said that Sunrise offers an opportunity for Ngati Porou whanau, marae, hapu, and organisations to consider becoming active contributors in making responsible charitable choices that can have an enduring impact in their own communities.

“The most compelling aspect of Sunrise is that unlike national charities all the money raised here is kept right here in Tairawhiti. Sunrise grants are only distributed back to causes and charities in our region. I feel that the long term potential for our whanau could be significant and this is the reason I wanted to be involved in helping Sunrise to achieve its objectives.”

Lilian is a Director on the Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou Board, represents the Board as a Director on the Toitu Ngati Porou Charitable Trust, a wealth benefit distribution entity, and is a Trustee on the Radio Ngati Porou Board.

Lilian’s passion for the East Coast and background in Administration and Project Management has seen her assisting with major marae development and special housing projects in Ngati Porou.

Lilian was born in Waipiro Bay and spent her pre-teen years growing up in Te Araroa and Tokomaru Bay. She moved away for many years, returning home to Te Horo as an adult to build a home for her whanau and to be close to her late parents who are buried at Tawaroa.

Glenda Stokes, Sunrise Foundation Executive Officer, is delighted to have someone of Lilian’s calibre and experience on the board. “Lilian’s extensive background and knowledge within iwi and the smaller coastal communities in our region will bring a fresh insight and perspective to Sunrise.”

Lilian has also joined Sunrise’s Grants Committee which administers the granting of funds to local charities and organisations. Glenda adds that “Lilian’s broad community focus will be invaluable in that capacity. I’m looking forward to working closely with Lilian and the rest of the Grants Committee on our second funding round which opens shortly.”

The Sunrise Foundation, a community endowment foundation, was launched by Sir Stephen Tindall in October 2014. Although new to New Zealand, community foundations are the fastest growing form of philanthropy worldwide and have been operating for over 100 years in North America. The Tindall Foundation has initiated and supported the development of community foundations throughout New Zealand.

The strength of the endowment model is that all donations and bequests are held as permanent endowments. Funds are invested and each year enough is retained to ensure that endowments grow in line with inflation, the surplus investment income is available as grants to charities and organisations in the local community (Gisborne District).

Glenda added that “At Sunrise we are all about capital preservation, meaning that any donations we receive will keep on supporting our local charities and organisations forever. This has appealed to our supporters and donors, who like the idea that their donation will keep benefitting our community for generations to come.”

In Sunrise’s first funding round last year eight grants were awarded to social, environmental, educational, arts, heritage, health and sports causes. The second funding round applications are open from 1st July to 19th August 2016.

Mr John Clarke, Sunrise Foundation Chairman, believes that the community foundation endowment model is poised to make a real difference in the Gisborne District. “The Sunrise Foundation is an organisation for local people to give for local needs, to help build a strong future for the Gisborne District forever.”

ENDS

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