It’s now — drum roll, please — 45South Community Foundation, which can be contracted to 45South Foundation, or 45South.
The name’s taken from the 45th parallel which runs through the region.
"When we launched in 2018 our focus was firmly on the Whakatipu Basin," foundation chief executive Jennifer Belmont says.
"But, as the years passed, we’ve seen our support and the generosity of our donors extend beyond our original boundaries.
"Donors are looking to offer scholarships to more than just the Whakatipu, and we are fielding more inquiries from lawyers on behalf of clients in the surrounding areas."
Belmont says a donor might want to set up a scholarship encompassing Wanaka’s Mount Aspiring College and Alexandra’s Dunstan College as well as Wakatipu High.
Another example, she notes, is Queenstown Airport’s new ZQN Community Fund, which her foundation administers, which supports charitable groups in Central Otago as well as Queenstown Lakes, including Wānaka.
She says the other issue is ‘Wakatipu Community Foundation’ is "such a long name".
Over the years the foundation has granted $3million to charities and causes through key programmes like Impact100 Wakatipu, The Greatest Needs fund and Love Queenstown and Love Wanaka Community Funds.
And donors have pledged $50m in legacy bequests which will become available to the community in time.
Foundation chair Steve Brent reveals its goal is to raise that amount to $1billion over the next 30 years.
He says the name change is "a new chapter and not a change in direction".
"45South is about being grounded in this region and committed to its future.
"It says we’re here for good."
