Craig’s Christmas Giving in Waikato focused on front line
Published on 25 November, 2024
Craig’s Investment Partners works with community foundations around the country to deliver the firm’s Christmas Giving grants to local charities.
The welcome support is enabled through Craig’s Workplace Giving program, which pools donations from Craig’s branches across New Zealand in a fund held by the Acorn Foundation, Tauranga’s community foundation.
From there, Momentum Waikato has this year received a total $13,100 from Craig’s and its staff to grant in varying amounts to five Waikato organisations they have chosen.
Quinton de Bruin, Investment Adviser at Craig's says “We’re really proud of our Workplace Giving program here at Craig's.”
“Employees opt in to donate from their monthly pay cheque, building up funds over the year which we then donate to charities in need at Christmas time.
“Craig's also matches employee donations dollar for dollar, up to $500 per person per annum, so it’s a great way to be able to make a meaningful impact in our local community,” says Quinton.
Craig's CEO Simon Tong has said “Our people are so supportive of the programme that employee contributions and Craig's matching means that this year we can distribute $194,000 to communities throughout New Zealand.”
Momentum Waikato General Manager Endowments Janice Lapwood thinks the generosity from Craig’s staff is remarkable.
"Not only is their generosity delivering out to the Waikato's community groups doing great stuff now, their impact is also creating a culture of generosity within their organisation," says Janice.
Craig’s Christmas Giving this year’s supports:
All of which are front-line organisations confronting issues of our times.
The Cambridge Lifeskills board said they were “delighted to be recipients of this year’s Craig’s Christmas Giving”.
“We would like to extend our thanks for the ongoing support from Craig’s Investment Partners and appreciate the strong social conscience they have. The money gifted is gratefully received and will go directly to providing further professional counselling sessions for tamariki and rangatahi.
“Our vision, that by working together to provide early intervention support, we do make a positive difference to our children and their future trajectory. Thanks to Craig’s for your contribution, it helps us to continue to achieve this.”
Peter Swarbrick from the Cambridge Tree Trust says is made up of volunteers who establish and maintain around twenty walks and parks in Cambridge, and operates a nursery that propagates 2,000-3,000 trees a year.
“Continuation of this work is dependent on financial support received from the Cambridge community,” says Peter.
“The support given by the staff of Craig's Investment Partners, in association with Momentum Waikato, is typical of the assistance that enables us to continue our work and is very much appreciated.”
Matt Brown of the Hamilton Land Search and Rescue group said “please accept my sincere thanks for this ongoing support of our work”.
Hamilton Search and Rescue provides highly competent and operationally focused teams that are well led, trained and prepared to respond to a search operation at short notice. Its primary area of operations is the Waikato region surrounding Hamilton, while also providing support to neighbouring areas from the Coromandel peninsula to Waitomo, and beyond.
Rachael Maher from Paws 4 Life Charitable Trust said the Craig’s donation was “a much welcomed and well-timed donation to the animals”.
“This time of year, our communities see an incredible increase in stray cats that are either pregnant or have young kittens or unwell and in desperate need of shelter.
“This amazing donation from Craig’s Christmas Giving Programme will be used directly on veterinary care for each animal to receive their health check, their de-sexing surgery, micro-chipping, registrations, vaccinations and parasite treatments. This will prevent thousands upon thousands of births and stray animals, and for this we are forever thankful,” says Rachael.
Rosemary Quay from Waikato Women's Refuge - Te Whakaruruhau said the group was “greatly humbled to be a recipient of the Craig's Christmas Giving Programme.
“Thank you very much to the local staff from Craig's Investment Partners and to Momentum Waikato Community Foundation for your very generous collaborative donation.
“It really comes down to our members of the community who make all the difference in helping us to do what we do. No matter how big or small, every donation towards our services positively changes the lives of women, children and families impacted by domestic violence."
Waikato Women's Refuge - Te Whakaruruhau is the only organisation of its kind in the Waikato that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Its overarching purpose is to break cycles of intergenerational violence and to create pathways of positive change, so that we can all live in a future where domestic violence is eliminated.
