Twenty three charitable organisations have benefited from the first round of major grants provided by the Hawke's Bay Foundation with nearly $100,000 given out.
The grants were made at a special ceremony in Hastings this week where representatives from the organisations were on hand to both accept their grants and also detail how they would benefit their slice of the community. The organisations were from a broad range of sectors including young people, the elderly, disadvantaged families and cultural groups.
Earlier this year the Hawke's Bay Foundation effectively took on a stand-alone approach, having for several years acted as a regional funding manager for the Tindall Foundation and distributed about $325,000 to a string of community groups.
There had been some limits through funding criteria as to who the foundation could support so it was decided to create a stand-alone fund though community donations and bequests.
Hawke's Bay Foundation chairwoman Rebecca Turner described the localisation of the foundation in 2012 as a major turning point for the organisation which comprises voluntary trustees and support staff.
She said earlier this year the new set-up marked the beginning of a permanent source of funding to support local charities.
That was underlined at this week's first presentation of significant grants.
Ms Turner said the Hawke's Bay Foundation had about $1.3 million of funds invested and that based on growth predictions expected distributions to grow annually.
"The foundation will have a secure source of income to make grants each year within the community, with the amount continually increasing as more donations join the investment pool," she said.
At this week's grants ceremony the recipients had the opportunity to respond to the grants - face-to-face with the trust members of the foundation.
"It was something very special," Ms Turner said.
"It was a wonderful night."
She said it was the first time the trust had staged such an event and the personal touch meant so much to so many.
The recipients were:
Age Concern Hastings, Birthright Hawke's Bay, Brain Injury Assn, Central Hawke's Bay Whanau Aroha Centre, Child Cancer Foundation, Christian Lovelink, Citizen's Advice Bureau Hastings, Epic Ministries, Heretaunga Seniors, Heretaunga Women's Centre, Jireh Trust, Kids Can, Maraetotara Tree Trust, Mohaka School, Pakeke Centre, Parenting Place, Plunket Hawke's Bay, Prima Volta, Radio Kidnappers, Te Matau a Maui Voyaging Trust, Te Whakaritorito Trust, U-Turn Trust and Volunteering Hawke's Bay.