The 2024 funding comes from the Miller General Impact Fund and the South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund, which this year included a significant boost from the Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation.
The Miller General Impact Fund was established in 2013 when a gift to the community from Eric and Queenie Miller was passed to the Aoraki Foundation.
The recipients of 2024 Miller General Impact Fund grants were: Peel Forest Outdoor Pursuits Charitable Trust ($5172); Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust — swimming ($3479); He Manu Hou Trust ($8000); Mackenzie Recreation Society Inc — Fairlie Kids Club ($3310); Te Aitarakihi Society Inc ($8000); Alzheimers South Canterbury ($5000), Life Education Trust Mid and South Canterbury ($5000); and Waimate Theatre Company Inc ($2000).
A total of $39,961 was distributed from the fund this year.
The South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund was established through a seed gift from the former South Canterbury District Health Board.
The health fund is the largest fund and has over $1million invested for the community.
This year a partnership with the Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation significantly increased the amount available to apply for.
In a statement, Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation chairman Sam Hervey said the collaborative approach to funding reduced overheads for applicants by saving them from applying to multiple organisations.
"The Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation Board is pleased to partner with the Aoraki Foundation to deliver health benefits to our region by donating $100,000 towards the South Canterbury Health Endowment grants.
"In previous years we asked health organisations to apply directly to Bidwill for grants, but agreed it was better for applicants to go through a single application structure with the Aoraki Foundation."
Aoraki Foundation gift and community adviser Kirsty Burnett said the organisation was very grateful for the additional funding.
"Bidwill’s contribution continues the hospital charitable trust’s long history of giving back to our community."
The recipients of the South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund and Bidwill Trust Hospital Foundation grants were: Bowel Cancer Aotearoa Charitable Trust t/a Bowel Cancer ($3000), Stroke Foundation NZ ($7000); Cancer Society Canterbury, West Coast division ($15,000); South Canterbury Multiple Sclerosis Society ($12,500); Pinc and Steel Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation ($14,500); Crohns and Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust ($2520); Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust — Give People Support ($12,500); Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand Charitable Trust ($3460); Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa ($10,000); Timaru Senior Citizens Association trading as Age Concern South Canterbury ($3000); Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand Trust ($5000); Alzheimers South Canterbury ($25,000); Life Education Trust Mid and South Canterbury ($10,000); and Health NZ Te Whatu Ora ($6572).
A total of $130,052 was distributed from the fund this year.
The Aoraki Foundation’s next annual funding round will open in September next year.
