Forty-five community organisations in the Queenstown Lakes District have received funding grants totalling $96,250.82 from the SkyCity Queenstown Casino Community Trust.
Trust chairman Clark Pirie said it was "immensely proud" to support the community, and some "very worthy" organisations were included in the latest funding round.
"Each year we look over submissions from groups that are making a positive difference to the community.
"Queenstown Lakes is a very special place to live and it's important that our community and our families are supported here. This is what the funding is about."
Included in the recipients, selected by Mr Pirie, Kim Wilkinson, Vicki Buckham and Kerry Harper, is the Queenstown Memorial Hall Trust, which received a $10,000 grant to go towards the $3.14 million upgrade, on target for completion on February 28.
Other recipients included Snow Sports NZ,which received $2000 to train 25 volunteers as part of the Adaptive Snowsports Programme and the New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club, which received $3913.04 for a "powered water sport racing event" to be held in the district next year.
The Wakatipu Community Maritime Preservation Society received $3420.56 for interpretation boards at the restored NZ Railways shipping office building at the Frankton Marina.
SkyCity Queenstown general manager Michelle Baillie said since 2002 the trust had delivered grants to more than 300 community groups.
"These groups enrich our experience of living in Queenstown.
"The trust aims to recognise groups across culture, education, sports, family support and community festivities, enabling us to cover a wide range of important activities in the community."
Grant recipients would be recognised and celebrated at a function at SkyCity Queenstown Casino on October 3.
Applications for trust grants next year will open in June 2013.
First Sovereign helps memorial hall
Queenstown Memorial Hall Trust chairwoman Cath Gilmour said she was "equally rapt" yesterday to learn First Sovereign Trust Ltd had contributed $10,000 towards the $3.14 million upgrade.
While no further major fundraisers were planned, Ms Gilmour said the trust was "very much hoping" to get a "more positive response" from the Lotteries Commission next month, to help it raise the remaining 10% of funding required.
The trust had applied for a Lotteries grant of $800,000, but it was declined, due to insufficient monetary input from the council.
It had since reapplied to the commission, seeking a $200,000 grant.
"We'll hear about that late November," she said.
In the interim, the trust continued to seek pledges from the community.
"We still believe we will get there.
We've got five months before the programme is due to end," Ms Gilmour said.
