Xmas Comes Early For Community Groups

MEDIA RELEASE
December 12, 2007

Xmas Comes Early For Community Groups

A new horse for Riding for the Disabled, a glockenspiel for the Piako Concert Brass band and a rescue boat motor for Waihi Surf Life Saving are just some of the highlights in the latest SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust funding round.

Christmas has come early for 115 community groups who will receive over $503,000 in the latest SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust funding round.

Margaret Evans, SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust Chairperson, says she is delighted at the wide range of organisations and community members that will benefit from the Trust's fifth annual funding round.

"The grants range in amount from $33,818 towards event costs for the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival, to $400 to purchase radio aerials for the King Country Search and Rescue Organisation.

"The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust is proud to support organisations that make a real, tangible difference to the people of Waikato."

Since 2003 the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust has donated over $2.1 million to more than 509 charitable organisations and community groups in the Hamilton area.

Trustees who join Margaret Evans on the board of the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust include Gary Dawson, John Gallagher, Jack Ninnes, Bridgette O'Sullivan, Peter Richardson and Tom Roa.

For more information about the SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust visit wwwskycityhamilton.co.nz

SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust Grant Highlights:
* $33,818 to the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival Foundation to contribute to advertising, signage, photography, pyrotechnics, stationery and street performers to raise awareness of the February 2008 festival.
* $15,600 to Hamilton Refuge and Support Service to enable a full time case worker/refuge advocate to be employed to assist with the workload of the Refuge team.
* $15,000 to Habitat for Humanity (CNI) Ltd towards building costs for a special event where 640 women volunteers will build two houses during May to coincide with Mother's Day. The purpose of this organisation is to eliminate inadequate housing by building and selling simple homes with affordable repayments.
* $15,000 to Rauawaawa Kaumatua Charitable Trust for their elderly transport service, printing costs of their bi-monthly newsletter and for their socialisation programme. This organisation provides programmes, training, employment, short-term accommodation, and health services for Maori.
* $10,000 to the Waikato Moving Image Trust towards wardrobe and lighting costs for the production of 'The King's Stilettos' to be shot in Hamilton in January 2008. The film is a musical based on the story of Richard O'Brien (creator of 'The Rocky Horror Show').
* $10,000 towards pyrotechnics and print advertising for the iconic Balloons over Waikato event.
* $6,500 to the Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services to replace the motor on their surf life saving rescue boat.
* $5000 to Philips Search & Rescue Trust for the purchase of accessories to increase the capabilities of their recently installed defibrillator.
* $5,000 to the Morrinsville Wheelers Cycling Club to contribute towards the building of a Velodrome in Morrinsville.
* $759 to the United Youth Orchestra for the purchase of sheet music to be used for their performances in 2008.

ENDS

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