Otago community organisations have received nearly $376,000 in the latest round of New Zealand Community Trust funding.
Some of the largest grants went to local sporting organisations including the Otago Rugby Football Union Inc ($62,000), Soccersouth ($50,000), Snow Sports NZ Inc ($50,000), Otago United Inc ($32,500), Otago Golf Club Inc ($25,000), Basketball Otago ($17,000) and Netball Otago ($12,145).
The Otago Festival of the Arts received the largest grant to cultural organisations with $15,000.
ORFU chief executive Richard Reid was delighted with the $62,000 grant, which would be used for salaries to pay development managers who would promote amateur rugby in Otago.
A total of $375,838.64 was given to the community by NZCT and funding was distributed between October 1 and December 31 last year.
NZCT chief executive Mike Knell said the trust had distributed more than $42 million in grants to sports, community and cultural events and clubs throughout the country in the past year.
He was proud NZCT was the largest funder of amateur sport in New Zealand.
"This is why we're known as the backbone of amateur sports in New Zealand.
"We are proud of the difference we make in the community, which we can only do with the hard work of our venue operators and their staff in gaming venues around the country."
Other grants: Abbeyfield NZ Inc $300; Alexandra Racing Club Inc $2500; Basketball NZ $4800; Brass Bands Association of NZ Inc $150; Central Otago Softball Association $1200; Central Otago Trotting Club Inc $2500; Chamber Music NZ Inc $1027.50; Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group Inc $7500; Cromwell Cricket Club $4000; Dunstan High School $4360; Equestrian Sports NZ $1200; Gallop South Inc $5000; Kiwi Swim Club Inc $500; Life Flight Trust $6000; Millers Flat Rodeo Club Inc $4000; NZ Cricket Players Association $2190; NZ Golf Association Inc $2250; NZ Marist Rugby Football Federation Inc $1385.25; NZ Opera Ltd $1200; NZ Rugby Union $8125; NZ Softball Association Inc $9000; Netball NZ Inc $3705; Omarama Rural Fire Unit $4000; Otago Badminton Association Inc $5000; Otago Boys High School $10,000; Special Olympics NZ $1875; Swimming NZ Inc $1875; Tarras Golf Club $5000; Touch NZ $7675.89; Triathlon NZ Inc $1875; University Grange Cricket Club Inc $2000.
