Our local communities Funds

Grow funding that helps disabled people and their families to prosper, including through day-to-day assistance and academic scholarships.

The Gemini Trust was set up in 1995 to support CCS Disability Action Waikato, the local branch of New Zealand’s largest disability support and advocacy organisation. Then in 2023 the Trust transferred its mission to fund local disability support to the ‘Fund for CCS Disability Action Waikato’ (FCDAW) at Momentum Waikato.

Investment income from the Fund goes to CCS Disability Action Waikato to help support its tailored assistance for disabled people across the region, and to provide scholarships for disabled people to attend The University of Waikato.

Their work makes a huge difference in the lives of disabled people and their whaanau across the Waikato, Coromandel and King Country.

One person who the organisation supports is Matthew Slone, pictured above, who in his dad David’s words, “spreads joy.”

The 31-year-old has a learning disability and for the last ten years CCS Disability Action Waikato support workers have helped him to live independently.

Assisting with swim training is Matthew’s passion and how he likes to ‘give back’ - he won a gold medal in swimming at the 2015 Special Olympics World Championships. Read more about Matthew.

Another family supported by CCS Disability Action Waikato is Lexy and her foster parents Maree and Dave in Te Aroha, pictured below.

Lexy has a wide range of support needs, as she lives with physical, learning, and neurological impairments. Maree says her care is demanding, particularly as Lexy is very curious and likes to be busy.

“She amazes me every day,” says Maree. “Some of that is her and who she is, and some of that is down to the team of people around her.” Read more about Lexy and her family.

Want to help grow the philanthropic investment income that pays for in-person support and access to tertiary education for disabled people across the Waikato?

If you do, please donate to the Fund for CCS Disability Action Waikato at the top right of this page.

Read more about the Fund for CCS Disability Waikato.

Securing the future for local disability support funding - January 2024.

How to support Matthew's support - March 2025.

Grant helps Parafed Waikato athletes shine at Halberg Games - June 2025.