Welcome to our second update for 2017, as we share some of our great new stories with you.
We've had a phenomenal two months as we connect an increasing number of generous donors with causes and charities that matter most to them.
We are proud to introduce our new donor, Amanda, who acknowledges the impact of working with children in India, her work in the church and her foster children as three things that have significantly shaped her life. You can read more about her inspirational life story here.
Thank you to all the many mayors, councillors, donors, professional advisors, change-makers, and community leaders who gathered together for our inaugural Vital Showcase this month. It was a great night filled with inspirational stories, and we look forward to hosting this event annually. Take a look at the photos shared on our Facebook page.
At this month's Vital Showcase event we announced the three recipients of the $1 million Vital Waikato Grant: Ka Pai Kai, Puniu River Care with Sustainable Coastlines, and Zeal. We also launched the Vital Impact Programme, a new high-impact solution focused on collective giving for maximum impact, enabling donors to create a lasting difference now and forever in our community.
You'll find a new page on our website dedicated to the Waikato Regional Theatre. It is here that we will share media releases and updates as they come, ensuring you stay up-to-date.
We are incredibly grateful for the work of Annabel Cotton and Niwa Nuri as Trustees of Momentum Waikato, and we wish them well as they move on. We are also pleased to announce the recent appointment of Simon Rickman to our Board. Simon is an experienced executive and director who returned to the Waikato in 2013 following 13 years in Auckland, the USA and the UK. Simon is involved with a strategy and technology firm, is a director of Jumping Beans International, and is a trustee of the McKenzie Centre, a charitable trust providing early intervention services for children with special needs and their families.
I trust you enjoy reading our latest update. Please feel free to share this newsletter with others so that we can all continue to create a better Waikato for everyone, forever.
With my very best wishes,
Ka kite ano
Cheryl Reynolds
Chief Executive