SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust: Grants round now open

The SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust is pleased to announce that this year’s funding round has now begun and charities and community groups should get their applications in. The Trust has now allocated over $24.2 million to over 1,300 community organisations since July 1996 and is looking forward to another year, with results of this year’s round being known in mid-June.

The deadline for applications is Friday 25 March 2011 and applicants are encouraged to use the online process introduced last year which makes it quicker and easier for groups applying for a grant.

At the end of the last funding round, the Chairperson, Jock Irvine resigned after eight years with the Trust. He has passed on the job to Arthur Loo who has been a Trustee since 2006.

Arthur says: “It’s a great honour to have been appointed to this role on the Trust and with very difficult shoes to fill as we farewell Jock who has served the Trust so well. I’m pleased to be here as we hit the $25 million dollars given away mark and am looking forward to receiving grant applications from a wide variety of groups.

“This year is going to be an especially hard one for charitable organisations and community groups as the country strives to give as much as they can to Christchurch who has had two terrible events in the last six months. As such, we are delighted to have these funds available and are especially interested in assisting community projects that focus on making a positive difference in the region and contribute to the areas of health, community welfare, cultural diversity and programmes that teach life-skills.

“We are also pleased to welcome a new Trustee, Vivien Bridgwater, who brings with her a wealth of experience. Vivien has held the position of General Manager of University Relations and Advancement at the Auckland University of Technology since 2000 with a broad media background having worked in film, television and radio.

She has specialised in cross-cultural communications and worked as a consultant for a number of years with Saatchi and Saatchi Wellington with both corporate and government clients and is a co-founder and manager of Mai FM 88.6.

Vivien is from Ngati Whatua descent and has a strong commitment to Maori, education and youth.”

For more information on how to apply go to www.skycityauckland.co.nz. Visit the ‘About Us’ page and then ‘Grants & Sponsorship’.

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