Michelle and Leighton Pye have launched the Temuka Area Community Fund.
The initiative is designed to provide lasting financial support to community organisations, facilities and services in Temuka, Winchester and the surrounding rural areas.
This fund was made possible following the sale of the Winchester Charitable Trust’s primary asset, a private foundation the Pyes established in 2016.
Acknowledging the challenges often faced by charitable trusts — such as time, administrative demands and distribution costs — Mr and Mrs Pye decided to wind down the trust and gift $250,000 to the Aoraki Foundation to establish a sustainable impact fund for their community.
Mrs Pye said when they saw the Aoraki Foundation’s model for creating everlasting gifts to the community, it made sense to wind up the trust and resettle the assets into the Temuka Area Community Fund.
"We trust that, through the Aoraki Foundation, our original vision of supporting people in the Temuka area will now endure for generations to come.
"It was unlikely others would contribute to our private trust.
‘‘Now that this fund is managed by the Aoraki Foundation, we hope it will inspire locals who are passionate about the Temuka/Winchester area to also make gifts, growing this fund for the future."
Aoraki Foundation chief executive Richard Spackman said it was "a fantastic initiative for the Temuka/Winchester community".
He said the fund not only supported charitable causes in the region, but also provided an opportunity for others to leave a legacy gift for their community.
Aoraki Foundation gift and community adviser Kirsty Burnett said the initiative provided a fantastic chance to build something meaningful for the Temuka and Winchester communities that would support a thriving future.
She emphasised the simplicity and impact of contributing, whether through direct donations to the fund or by considering a legacy gift in a will.
To learn more about fund or to make a donation, visit aorakifoundation.org.nz/temukafund
— APL
