Gallagher Group Gifts $2 Million To Wintec

Issued by the Waikato Institute of Technology

October 23, 2008.

News Release

Gallagher Group Gifts $2 Million To Wintec Foundation

Hamilton’s Gallagher Group last night gifted $2 million to the Waikato Institute of Technology’s newly established Wintec Foundation.

The gift was announced by Gallagher chairman and chief executive, Bill Gallagher, at a formal dinner at Wintec’s city campus and attended by more than 70 guests.

The surprise announcement came at a function described on invitations as a joint birthday dinner to celebrate Wintec’s 40 years as a polytechnic, and 70 years of the Gallagher Group.

Guests were totally unaware of the Gallagher gift which, when announced by Mr Gallagher, was greeted with a standing ovation.

Bill Gallagher told guests that he was delighted that the Gallagher Group was the first corporate supporter of the Wintec Foundation.

“ Our gift reflects an excellent connection between the two organisations that share core philosophies of learning and innovation,” he said.

“This was critical for growth of individuals and business.”

Guests were then invited outside to witness the unveiling of the naming of Wintec’s new $12 million award-winning student building as the “Gallagher Hub”.

Back inside, Mr Gallagher handed over a giant cheque to Wintec Foundation trustee, Hamilton businessman, Laurie Pilling.

A second unveiling saw the naming of the building’s events area as the “Bill Gallagher Centre.”

Wintec is also to provide an annual $5000 scholarship in the name of the Gallagher Group to be awarded to an academic staff member for study overseas.

Wintec chairman Gordon Chesterman said the Gallagher gift was a “wonderful gesture” by one of New Zealand’s legendary companies.

“Gallagher’s outstanding achievements over the last 70 years has been inspiring,” he said.

“The company is a world leader in security and access systems, yet it continues to support the region and the community it has always called ‘home’.

“Wintec is extremely grateful to Gallagher’s for its generosity. What the company has done will make a very real difference to our progress,” he said.

He said the gift would help support the Institute’s $58 million modernisation project at the city campus and at Avalon.

Mr Chesterman said the Foundation had been formed to establish a tax efficient vehicle for corporate gifting which he hoped might influence other companies in the region.

“We have not previously approached the corporate sector for investment because of our focus on building a modern tertiary organisation that was recognised for delivering the skills the region wanted.

“Our objective over the past four years has been to embrace the Government’s tertitary education reforms which we have supported from the outset,” he said.

“Now, as a high-performing institute of technology, we are ready to move forward and continue to deliver work-ready graduates that employers need.”

ENDS

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