Mr Gallagher, the United States-based president of United Way Worldwide, visited Otago Polytechnic this week during a visit to the city and was impressed by a continuing collaboration between the polytechnic and the charity in building charity houses.
Polytechnic carpentry students have, as part of their training, long been working on charity houses which have been largely built from materials donated by the business community.
Several of the houses have been sold and the proceeds donated to Otago charities through United Way, an international charity which works to improve the quality of life for millions of people by focusing on education, income and health.
Mr Gallagher said the Otago Polytechnic's approach was a "good idea" which United Way would be publicising internationally and would soon by copied by United Way participants in other countries.
Mr Gallagher later attended a reception by Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin for United Way charity recipients, at the Dunedin Municipal Chambers.
The sale of an earlier charity house worked on by Otago Polytechnic students contributed to the funds which were allocated to Otago charities yesterday.
United Way announced $160,327 funding to: Advisory & Support Otago, ChatBus Trust, Citizens Advice Bureau, DARE Otago Inc, Dunedin Council of Social Services, English Language Partners Dunedin, Habitat for Humanity (Dunedin) Ltd, Prisoners' Aid and Rehabilitation Society (Otago), Queenstown Lakes Family Centre, Southern Cross Kids Camps NZ, Te Hou Ora Otepoti Inc, The Waiareka Youth and Ministry Trust, Carers Society Otago, Corpac Trust, Creative Arts Trust - Artsenta, Cromwell Youth Worker Trust, Disabilities Resource Centre Queenstown, Disability Information Service, Enterprise Clutha Trust, Epilepsy NZ Otago Branch, Happiness House, Heartland Otago/Southland Life Education Trust Inc, ME Information and Support Services Inc, Parkinsons Society of Otago, Rape Crisis Dunedin Inc, Stopping Violence Dunedin Inc, Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge,The Brain Injury Association (Otago) Inc, The Otago Life Education Trust, Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network.
