Millions given to groups
Trust Waikato delivered $11.6 million in the past financial year to support initiatives across the region.
Morrinsvillle and Te Aroha groups received a combined total of $161,000 funding, spread across 27 community groups.
The Ngati Haua Mahi Trust received the biggest grant of $35,000 for operational and classroom upgrade costs.
Other big donations were received by Morrinsville Community House ($20,000), Morrinsville Art Gallery ($19,000), Te Aroha Kindergarten ($19,000), Future Te Aroha ($10,000) and Te Aroha College ($8000).
The balance was made of grants for differing amounts from $600 up to $7500.
Some of the main talking points from the annual public meeting attended by stakeholders was the fiscal management of the trustees.
From the $11.6 million paid out through grants, $8.8m was approved for 636 community projects with $2.8m going to 10 significant capital projects.
A further $2.5 million was paid to the trust’s strategic partners.
Trust chairman Niwa Nuri outlined the new 10-year strategic plan focusing on achieving impact and influence at a regional level through effective philanthropy, leadership and partnership.
In recognising the need for strong leadership the strategy has a deeper focus on tackling new challenges and its five and 10-year goals towards enabling transformational change for people, communities and places where the need is greatest.
Chief executive Dennis Turton acknowledged social services as a major area the trust is focused on.
Last year the trust considered applications totalling over $6 million for supporting families and young people.
The need to support social services is increasing and Trust Waikato last year supported 264 requests.
‘‘The trust is supporting with capacity building and capability through ‘Community Waikato’ and this model is being replicated around the country.’’