our place
An unexpected windfall for local groups More than 50 West Auckland charities and community groups received an unexpected pre-Christmas funding windfall late last year. Many of the 57 charities had applied for funding for a range of health, education and environmental projects through the Million Dollar Mission, organised by ‘The Trusts’ West Auckland. However, not all had received all the funding they applied for and faced shortfalls with no certainty around when their full funding needs could be met. As part of the Million Dollar Mission, an online voting platform had been set up and more than 300,000 locals had voted for the charities and community groups they felt were most deserving – with a maximum $1million cap. In a surprise move, however, The Trusts decided to provide an additional $600,000 to ensure most of those groups who didn’t meet their complete funding needs would be able to complete their projects. Amanda Cassidy spokesperson for The Trusts says the funding was originally earmarked for the distribution of household items, but instead has been used to further support local community groups. She says the funding challenges faced by a wide range of groups in the region led to the largest number of applicants and recipients to
date which was a factor in the decision to increase the size of the grant. “Charities are faced with increasing pressure to meet funding needs, and the longer their projects are delayed the more the costs are increased,” she said. “In the past, we have provided a range of household items such as smoke alarms and first aid kits for every household in the West Auckland region. “This year will be the first time that we have been able to fulfil the funding goals of so many deserving organisations at once. We believe thousands of people in need will benefit from this expansion of the Million Dollar Mission programme and we may look to grow the programme in the future,” said Amanda. Local charities that benefited from The Trusts’ support included Green Bay School, Rudolf Steiner Schools (Titirangi) Trust, Laingholm Primary School, Kelston Primary School, Konini School, Titirangi Playcentre, Piha Surf Life Saving Club Incorporated, Piha Volunteer Fire Brigade, SCOW, Oratia School, Woodlands Park School, Laingholm Baptist Church, Glen Eden Athletic and Harriers Inc, The Whau River Catchment Trust, Kelston Community Hub and New Zealand Bird Rescue Charitable Trust.
Lemon Aid for Australian bush fire relief
Brightening up a community space
When Sophia and Beth decided that they had to do something to help with the Australian bush fires they set about making a tonne of home-made lemonade.
Sophia do Castro Blanshard (10, pictured in the red top) and her friend Beth Iloka (11) then set up a stall in Titirangi Village to sell their lemonade. In two hours they raised $156 and donations continued to flood in after the lemonade sold out, bringing the total raised to $310 - all of which will be donated to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and Wildlife Victoria. Sophia and Beth are really grateful to the ‘kind folk of Titirangi’. “We also want to thank New World Green Bay for kindly donating some lemons and thank you to wonderful wahine Deborah Russell, (Labour MP for New Lynn, pictured below) for your uber generosity on the lemon front too.”
Work on upgrading and beautifying Green Bay’s Barron Green Domain are well underway and should be finished soon. The area is popular for community events and food evenings in summer and adjoins the Green Bay Community House and Plunket Clinic. The upgrades include landscaping, planting, new seating and a new rubbish bin. Barron Green is the second in a group of Green Bay parks receiving improvements. The others are Green Bay Community Corner and Crum Park. The project’s been funded by the Whau Local Board at a cost of approximately $65,000.
Got something to say or know of a great story idea? Let The Fringe know... Email info@fringemedia.co.nz or write to PO Box 60-469, Titirangi
4
The Fringe FEBRUARY 2020
advertise with the fringe & reach 70,000+ readers
