Student Volunteers Donate Award Money

Media Release, Tuesday 11 September 2012

Lakes Ranch Children’s Camp And Te Runanga O Ngati Pikiao Trust Receive Funds From Award Winning Student Volunteers

Lakes Ranch Children’s Camp and Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao Trust have both received a $250 donation from winners of the TrustPower Rotorua Youth Community Spirit Award and the Waiariki Institute Outstanding Project Award.

Kelsey Horne from John Paul College was announced as the Overall Supreme Winner of the inaugural 2012 TrustPower Rotorua Youth Community Spirit Awards and Mamaeroa Merito from Rotorua Girls’ High School was named as the inaugural winner of the Waiariki Outstanding Project Award. The Awards evening recognised secondary school students’ service to the school and the community and was presented at a function at the Blue Baths on Monday 10 September.

For winning the Awards Kelsey and Mamaeroa received a framed certificate and $500, with $250 going to them personally and $250 being given to a community group or organisation of their choice.

Lakes Ranch Children’s Camp runs camps for disadvantaged children in the school holidays.

“I chose Lakes Ranch Children’s Camp to donate my money to because I wish to give less fortunate children in our community an equal opportunity to make a positive contribution to society,” says Kelsey Horne.

Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao Trust aim to help people keep busy and healthy. They are committed to making a difference in the lives of Whanau, Hapu, and Iwi.

“Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao Trust provides wonderful opportunities to grow the Rotorua community. Aside from the many services offered to all ages, it has the Kia Piki Te Ora organisation, a Maori suicide prevention service programme. This is the group I decided to donate money to as it helps local people deal with the far reaching effects of suicide – which I am extremely passionate about,” explained Mamaeroa Merito.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award has been a wonderful opportunity to publicly acknowledge the work young people do to enrich their community.

“Often young people receive a lot of negative attention and we forget the tremendous amount of unpaid work young people do which adds tremendously to the fabric of our community. These two young ladies demonstrate wonderful youth community spirit and we wish them all the best for their bright futures ahead,” says Mrs Partridge.

ends

© Scoop Media