SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust funding applications open

Over the past year, SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust has injected $426,000 in to 48 community organisations, and applications are now open for the 2016 funding round. Charitable organisations whose work supports families to thrive and prosper in the Waikato region are encouraged to apply now.

Last year, Kaivolution Food Rescue received a $25,000 grant from the Trust to contribute to driver wages and vehicle costs, and in June this year the charity celebrated 100 tonnes of food redistributed within the region.

Michelle Baillie, SKYCITY Hamilton General Manager says it’s rewarding to give back to the community through the Trust and see the tangible difference the funding makes. 

“Every year we hear inspiring stories from our community and it’s very rewarding as a big business to help fund the work of volunteers in our community. Through the Trust, we have also identified more ways that SKYCITY Hamilton can give back, including donating more than 1,400kgs of food to Kaivolution over the past year,” says Ms Baillie. 

The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust prioritises four key funding areas, financial capability, employment and economic prosperity, pathways to employment and economic prosperity, and healthy and stable families, and supports applications both large and small.   

In 2015 the Trust provided The Society of St Vincent de Paul with a grant of $6,000 to go towards the cost of milk for a night food truck for the homeless and bread for school lunches. The Society of St Vincent de Paul provides a wide range of services that promote human dignity and justice through human contact for those in need.

SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust Chairman Roger FitzGerald says the Trust is committed to supporting families to thrive and communities to prosper.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to fund groups such as Kaivolution and St Vincent de Paul to continue to deliver much needed services in our community, and contribute to a better Waikato. The demand for funding is high and every year we have tough decisions to make. Our Trustees are all Waikato locals with a breadth of experience in this community, and together we strive to make sure the funds are put to the best use possible,” says Mr FitzGerald.

Since 2003, the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust has donated more than $6.4 million to more than 1,480 local groups in the wider Waikato region.

SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust is now open for 2016 funding applications and will close at 5pm on Friday 30 September 2016. To find out more about who can apply and how, visit: https://www.skycityhamilton.co.nz/about-us/community/community-trust-grants/overview/