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Green-Star Champion Launches $5m Charitable Foundation


Green-Star Champion Launches $5m Charitable Foundation

Green Building champion and long-time philanthropist Ted Manson has launched a new charitable trust - the Ted Manson Foundation - with a $5million personal contribution.

The Foundation is not seeking donations or funding from any other sources, but will be funded solely by Mr Manson. The initial commitment by Mr Manson of $5million shows that he intends to make a real impact and difference to the community.

For Mr Manson, this follows many years of quietly but consistently supporting numerous community initiatives and causes. It is believed that donations made over the years total over $1 million, mainly to causes primarily focused on health, youth, and sport.

The private businessman usually shuns media or public attention, but is keen to promote his new foundation to encourage individuals and groups to apply for grants.

“This year I turned 60, and with my three sons being more actively involved in the business I am at a stage in my life where I can devote more time to helping others in the community, and I’m very excited about that,” says Mr Manson.

This contribution and commitment to the community is aligned with the contributions that his company has made to the environment and to the Auckland cityscape over the 40 years it has been in business.

On the environmental front, Ted Manson has been New Zealand’s trailblazer for Green Star buildings, with the company building and funding more sustainable commercial buildings than any other in New Zealand. “Green Buildings significantly reduce the environmental impact of buildings. I’m very proud of the environmental contribution that our company has made – we built the first two buildings in Auckland to be certified Green, and every building we have built since 2008 has been a Green Building.” Manson is also leading the way with the construction of its own new headquarters - a world leading 6 Green Star building in Parnell.

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The Auckland cityscape is adorned with the many signature buildings developed by Mansons. During the 40 years that Mr Manson’s property development business has been operating to date, it has regenerated many derelict or abandoned sites into architecturally designed buildings providing quality apartment living and state-of-the-art commercial office buildings. This has seen many government departments and leading corporates maintain or relocate their operations in Auckland city. He has been careful however to preserve important heritage elements wherever present, such as the 7-level Northern Roller Mills façade and the entire historical Silo building in Fort Street.

Some of the signature buildings developed by Mr Manson include the Lumley Centre office tower in Shortland Street, the celebrated Telecom Place on Victoria Street West, and Watercare’s new headquarters in Newmarket. It is also Mansons’ cranes that are currently transforming the Victoria Market car park into high-end apartments.

Mr Manson’s longevity in the inherently volatile property development market is unique. The business acumen and responsible fiscal management that has seen him survive and thrive during the many economic conditions and recessions over the last 40 years is the reason why he is now in a position to launch the charitable Foundation with such a generous initial commitment.

Mr Manson is a self-made man who has not forgotten his roots, which began with growing up in a state house. “I’m a great believer in providing people with opportunities to realise their full potential - hence the focus on child health and education. In saying that, we’ve set the Foundation up in a way that enables us to be open-minded and able to consider any category of applications.”

The registered charitable trust arm of the Foundation will focus largely on improving child health, poverty, and access to education as well as a commitment to the environment. For those who do not quite meet the criteria for the registered charitable trust, grants can also be gained through the community trust arm of the Foundation, which will consider a wider brief of applications – from the likes of sporting or academic arenas.

To find out more about The Ted Manson Foundation and Charitable Trust and the criteria visit www.tedmansonfoundation.co.nz.

[Ends]
Background Notes:

The foundation was announced at a recent function that celebrated Ted Manson’s 60th birthday, alongside thanking the people that have played a special part in his life, including the agent who sold him and his father their very first home 40 years ago, past and present staff, contractors who have worked on their developments.

The Manson Post Graduate Property Scholarship to one of the University of Auckland Business School’s Department of Property BProp candidates will see the recipient supported with a one year post graduate study relevant to the degree, payment of all course fees, an additional $10,000 to assist expenses, and assistance with an internship at either Mansons TCLM or a relevant partner organisation.

Ted Manson’s company Mansons TCLM represents a New Zealand success story and is now a self-funding property development business that has built over NZ$2 billion worth of properties in Auckland city.

This exceptional contribution to the urban redevelopment of Auckland has been accentuated by the retention of important heritage building elements whenever present, alongside the unparalleled commitment to the environment through the construction of more certified Green Buildings than another New Zealand developer.

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust comment:

“Mansons have been a vital part of our organisation for close to a decade. To have such a generous sponsor backing us up year after year is extremely reassuring for everyone here at the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, especially with our workload ever increasing.

The funding that Mansons have contributed towards our organisation represents the cost associated with 75 potentially lifesaving rescues.

There are a lot of individuals & families out there that need to be equally thankful that we have Mansons backing us up.”

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