Trust investment portfolio reaches 30 year high
5 Sep 2018
Otago Community Trust has reflected on another positive year at its 30th Annual Public Meeting held in Dunedin last week.
Chair Ross McRobie told the 100 plus audience on Tuesday evening, that the Trust was in a strong financial position.
“Our investment portfolio returned $20.6 million for year ending 31 March 2018, representing a return of 8.2 percent, with total Trust funds rising to $292 million”.
“Funds are at the highest they have been in our 30-year history”, McRobie said.
Trust chief executive, Barbara Bridger told the public that the Trust approved over $9.0 million in grants over the last financial year and for this current financial year has been able to lift the grants budget to $10 million.
Ms Bridger noted however that almost $1.8 million of this was earmarked for the Trust’s in principle grant towards the Central Otago multi-million-dollar cycle trail project that will connect Central Otago's trail network and create 500 kilometres of continuous trail network.
Prior to its Annual Public Meeting, Otago Community Trust trustees held their regular August board meeting where over $490,000 in community grants were approved.
The Trust was pleased to award its second only Learning Impact Fund grant to the Cromwell Communities of Learning cluster. This cluster is led by Cromwell Primary School and includes Goldfields Primary School and Cromwell College.
The cluster was awarded a $300,000 grant which will provide the resources and equipment to develop future thinking skills through the use of Makerspaces at each of the three schools, said Ms Bridger.
Wendy Brooks, Principal of Cromwell Primary School said the cluster of schools was delighted with the outcome. “Our team has worked really hard over the last few months and we are thrilled to have secured this funding”.
A $100,000 grant was also awarded to the Otago Community Hospice, which will support their large heating and cooling project. Otago Community Hospice chief executive Ginny Green said we are thrilled to have the Otago Community Trust so generously support our heating and cooling project.
“This project will ensure our most vulnerable patients are as comfortable as possible in our Inpatient Unit.”
Other grants across the region included $20,000 to Alexandra BMX Club Inc for assistance with their track upgrade, $7,600 to Waikouaiti Riding for Disabled assisting the group with the purchase of new equipment and $2,000 to the Millers Flat Baths Inc which will support the purchase of a new facility oil burner for heating the baths.
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Otago Community Trust Community Donations, August 2018 |
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Alexandra |
Alexandra BMX Club Inc |
$20,000 |
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Alexandra Blossom Festival Inc |
$4,000 |
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Balclutha |
Jennys Companionship Group Inc |
$3,500 |
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Cromwell |
Cromwell Communities of Learning |
$300,000 |
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Dunedin |
Otago Community Hospice Trust |
$100,000 |
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The Otago Early Childhood & Schools Maori & Pacific Island Festival Trust |
$15,000 |
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Balmacewen Tennis Club Inc |
$6,000 |
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Dunedin Senior Chinese Assn |
$1,500 |
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Saddleview Pony Club |
$1,500 |
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Dunedin Harmony Chorus Inc |
$500 |
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Saturday Morning Music Classes (Dunedin) Soc Inc |
$3,000 |
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Spring Chamber Music |
$1,000 |
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Waikouaiti Riding for Disabled |
$7,600 |
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Dunedin Tap Dancing Society |
$2,532 |
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Otago University Childcare Assn Inc |
$1,000 |
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Oamaru |
Ardleigh Golf Club Inc |
$5,250 |
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Roxburgh |
Millers Flat Baths Inc |
$2,000 |
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Wanaka |
Kahu Youth Trust |
$15,000 |
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The Upper Clutha Sports Community Trust |
$2,500 |