Queenstown community groups benefit from record $140,400 funding boost

Queenstown community organisations have benefited from a record $140,423 funding boost, with 50 groups across the region receiving grants from SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust.

The Trust has been providing funding for Queenstown community groups for 14 years, distributing more than $1.5 million in funding to 517 community organisations in that time. 

SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust continues to be a strong supporter of community events that add vibrancy to the community, a wide range of sports to encourage health and social contact, and extensive support of rescue and emergency organisations.

This year, the Trust’s three largest grants were for local rescue and emergency services including $15,360 awarded to the Lakes District Air Rescue Trust for six pilot helmets; $10,000 to the Order of St John Wakatipu Area Committee for the health shuttle service, and $7,826.09 to Wakatipu Search and Rescue for a specialised trailer to centralise all the search and rescue kit.

SKYCITY Queenstown General Manager Jono Browne says SKYCITY is delighted to again be able to give back to the Queenstown-Lakes community through the Trust.

“The SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust plays an important role in our community, enabling the wonderful work our local groups do in the Queenstown-Lakes region to continue and prosper when funding is often hard to come by.  We thank the Trustees who continue to volunteer their time in making these grant decisions each year.

“In conjunction with our key sponsorships, of the SKYCITY Stampede, Queenstown Winter Festival, Gay Ski Week and the Gibbston Valley Wine and Food Festival, SKYCITY Queenstown prides itself on supporting our community through the Trust,” he says.

SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust Chairman Clark Pirie says the Trust is proud to have been supporting Queenstown community groups for 14 years.

“We have seen so many projects made a reality, organisations grow and charities boosted as a result of the funding given out each year, and we look forward to seeing the benefits of this year’s funding come to fruition also,” he says.

Click here to view the full list of 2016 SKYCITY Queenstown Community Trust grant recipients.