Mr Rodger said it was a happy occasion to present the "outstanding" Life Education Trust with the donation.
The casino trust gave about $200,000 a year, in grants of between $500 and $1000, to the Dunedin community — but this was a major donation, he said.
The money meant Life Education could replace an old and unreliable vehicle, which Ms Sinclair was using to visit schools between south of the Waitaki River and Dunedin city, with a safer car.
"We cover about 200,000km a year," she said.
Harold the Giraffe was pictured on the side of the car.
"I look out and see Harold on the car and it makes me smile," she said.
Ms Winmill said it was a relief as replacing the old car had been on its risk register for a while.
"We are really grateful ... being non-government funded and not-for-profit, we rely on local support."
