The ASB Community Trust has granted $100,000 towards a planned South Auckland Servicemen’s memorial garden in Manukau.

The project, spearheaded by the Manurewa and Papatoetoe Returned Services Associations, will see a war memorial garden sited in the Manukau Memorial Gardens as a permanent reminder of those who died to preserve our country’s freedom and way of life.

The ASB Community Trust, which funds not-for-profit projects and organisations throughout Auckland and Northland, says the $693,000 memorial garden campaign has strong community backing. Letters of support for the collaborative project came from a number of RSA groups and the Manurewa Community Board.

“It will be a place of remembrance and commemoration,” says ASB Community Trust CEO Jennifer Gill, “but it will also have educational uses, with schools able to use the memorial as a learning aid for students.”

Ms Gill says one of the Trust’s core goals is to support projects which preserve the heritage of communities in the region.

“It’s clear that this project fits the Trust’s strategy and that the project has widespread support from the community,” she says.

Colin Topp, Chairman of Trustees for the South Auckland RSA Cemetery Committee, has worked for about 30 years to see the gardens created and they have also gained financial support from the Manurewa Community Board, Papatoetoe and Manurewa RSA’s.

ASB Community Trust decides on grants for projects in education, the arts, sport, recreation, health and social services areas each month. About $55 million is given to community group projects in Auckland and Northland each year.

Founded on the sale of its shares in the ASB bank, ASB Community Trust has granted more than $500m since being formed in 1988. Any incorporated or charitable trust can apply for funds, provided they are a not-for-profit organisation. For more details about applying, visit the Trust’s website: www.ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz

ENDS

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