Mazda Grants Wishes for Worthy New Zealanders

Media Release
1 November 2006

Mazda Grants Wishes for Worthy New Zealanders

A third round of funding by Mazda Foundation offers financial assistance to
21 individuals and organisations throughout New Zealand

Deserving youngsters, special needs children, surf lifesavers and adventurous boy scouts are all set to benefit from the generosity of the Mazda Foundation.

These are just a handful of people the Mazda Foundation has touched with a third round of funding which has seen more than $86,000 go toward 21 individuals and organisations for environmental, educational, employment and skills development, cultural and community projects.

The Mazda Foundation has made heart warming donations to a wide range of organisations for a diverse range of purposes (full list follows). These include the Teach Me Trust, which supports children with autistic spectrum disorder and their families by contributing to ongoing treatment costs.

Mazda Foundation funding has also helped a number of community-based projects or organisations, such as the Balclutha Toy Library, which has been able to improve resources as a result of a grant while another successful applicant, Tirimoana School in West Auckland, is able to carry out an indigenous tree planting programme thanks to a Mazda Foundation grant.

In one of the larger donations, the Foundation allocated $10,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants hundreds of wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses each year.

Marlen Smith, sponsorship manager of the Make-a-Wish Foundation warmly welcomes the donation.

“We are absolutely delighted with the response from the Mazda Foundation and are in the process of selecting children who will be the beneficiaries of this donation. We are so pleased the Foundation has enabled us to grant wishes to even more children.”

Andrew Clearwater, Chairman of the Mazda Foundation said the Foundation was touched to be able to help get important projects underway, and support vital community services by providing financial assistance.

“Through the work of the Foundation we are acting upon the firm belief that we can only pave the way for a brighter tomorrow by laying the groundwork today. I am delighted we have been able to assist so many individuals and organisations carry out worthy projects and activities.”

Today’s announcement coincides with Andrew Clearwater taking over the reigns as the new Managing Director of Mazda New Zealand and Chairman of the Mazda Foundation. Peter Aitken, who held both of these positions, retired yesterday after 30 years service for the company but will remain a trustee of the Mazda Foundation. Andrew was previously a trustee of the Foundation and General Manager of Mazda New Zealand.

There are three closing dates each year for submissions to the Mazda Foundation. The next closing date is 31st March 2007, the second is 30th June 2007, followed by 30th September 2007. For more information or to register for a grant visit www.mazdafoundation.org.nz

The Mazda Foundation Trust was established in 2005 and is funded through contributions from every new Mazda vehicle entering the country and support from Mazda dealers throughout New Zealand, as well as dedicated fundraising activities by Mazda New Zealand.

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List of grants awarded in third round of funding follows.

Mazda Foundation Approved Grants*

Recipient Location Purpose for which grant was requested
Auckland Down Syndrome Association Auckland ‘Buddy Walk’
Ashburton Art Gallery Ashburton For the design and implementation of an artwork in the entrance way
Balclutha Toy Library Balclutha, Otago Purchase of selection of board games to help children reach their full potential through play and learning activities
Bay of Plenty Symphonia Bay of Plenty - Tauranga To pay for 8 musicians and the conductor for the Mostly Mozart concert
Books for Babes Trust Auckland To deliver 5 books over a 12 month period to children who would otherwise not have access to books
Bronwyn Rydon Papatoetoe, South Auckland To purchase a special school desk for her daughter who has Down Syndrome to enhance her learning environment
Greymouth Toy Library Greymouth Purchase new toys for educational development of children
Kauri 2000 Charitable Trust Whitianga, Coromandel To erect a sign, educating people about the work of the Trust and the history of Kauri at the Kauri Walk, Kapanga Rd, Coromandel
Leeston Consolidated School Leeston, Canterbury To purchase/install four classroom sound systems to enhance quality of teachers’ voices in learning environment
Make-A-Wish Foundation of NZ National To help make the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses come true
Maungarei Community Christian Trust Mt Wellington, Auckland To support ‘Food for Thought’ programme which provides students with fresh fruit
Motu Moana Green Bay Scout Group West Auckland - Titirangi To purchase tents for the Scouts for outdoor events/camping activities
Ohaeawai Primary School Kaikohe, Northland To create a safe play area for children on school grounds
Onerahi Primary School Onerahi, Whangarei To purchase 5 overhead projectors to promote numeracy, 2 multimedia projectors for classrooms, 5 portable CD players for curriculum implementation
Roxburgh Area School Roxburgh, Central Otago Purchase 4 laptop computers for at-risk students on a life skills programme
Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving Patrol Inc Ruakaka,
Whangarei For high quality surf lifesaving training and instructing sessions with the use of power point presentations
Special Needs Advocacy & Support National To purchase library resources on effective teaching methods for special needs’ children
Teach Me Trust Manawatu & Horowhenua To support children with autistic spectrum disorder and their families in Manawatu and Horowhenua districts by contributing to ongoing cost of treatments
Te Riri Otea Dance Group Blockhouse Bay, Auckland To purchase a drum set for the group
Tirimoana School Te Atatu South West Auckland Stage 3 of planting programme – planting forest canopy trees, providing an area for children to study indigenous plants
Westown Scouts New Plymouth Purchase hiker tents for outdoor activities
*For applications received prior to closing date 30th September

ENDS

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