From many small acorns big things have grown across the region. However, much more is expected from the Acorn Foundation’s most recent investments.
The Acorn Foundation has distributed almost $20 million to the western Bay of Plenty community and beyond since its founding in 2003, supporting more than 300 local charities and award programmes. What’s more, this year’s distributions are 20 per cent higher than in 2023 with 30 organisations set to benefit for the first time.
“Our ability to give back to this region is thanks to the generosity of our incredible donors,” Acorn’s CEO, Lori Luke, advises. “Our donors are enabling us to create a lasting impact that will ripple across the region for generations to come.”
This year, the work of 272 charitable organisations and scholarship programmes is being supported as the foundation focuses on enterprises assisting people in the community with disabilities and their caregivers.
“These groups were highlighted as particularly vulnerable in the Vital Update – Tauranga 2023 research. Acorn was able to support organisations doing excellent work with locals with physical, intellectual and learning differences.”
Improving food security is also on the menu for the region. The foundation’s annual distributions include donations from the Acorn Vital Impact Fund, which concentrates on areas of greatest need in the western Bay of Plenty.
“With on-going concerns about residents’ access to food due to cost-of-living issues, this year’s fund was targeted specifically towards organisations working in the food security space,” Lori said.
The Vital Impact Fund provided grants to organisations covering food support, including:
- Tauranga Community Foodbank
- Good Neighbour
- Super Support
- The Hub Te Puke
- Under the Stars
- Ōtūmoetai Social Supermarket
- Kura Kai
Because older residents may find it harder to make ends meet during a tough economic climate, a meeting of minds is ensuring help is at hand. As a result, Super Support was an obvious choice among this year’s Acorn Foundation recipients.
“We have an increasing concern about the affordability of food for the renting elderly,” explains Lori. “Super Support provides a free service of precooked meals, basic pantry supplies and wrap-around support directly for those aged over 65 who are finding it difficult to afford healthy food.”
Super Support has required many hands to make light work, operating as a collaboration between: Tauranga Foodbank, Good Neighbour, Age Concern, Here to Help U, Bay Financial Mentors and Tauranga City Council.
“If older residents are struggling with dental expenses, health costs, rent, and food price rises with no income other than superannuation, purchasing food is on the bottom of their list,” Tanya Smith from Age Concern asserts.
Endowment – giving lives on
Acorn Foundation donors support the community through a range of methods, including gifts in wills and endowment (or living giving). This involves an initial gift invested with a portion of returns distributed to recipients selected by Acorn donors. The foundation supports charities and causes, allocating funds through the volunteer Distributions Committee.
Acorn’s endowment giving – which totalled $2.5 million this year, an increase of 10% – provides enduring assistance, explains donor Noeline Campbell.
“If you set up an endowment fund with Acorn, it will be there after you have died. Income will be generated to fund those charities you supported when you were alive.
“You get to experience the joy of giving during your lifetime and you know that it will continue to have an increasing effect long after you have gone. Isn’t that wonderful?”
As September was Wills Month, it was the perfect time for locals to ensure they could continue to assist others into the future. However, the seeds of charity are welcome at any time.
“It is such a privilege for our team to work with Acorn’s fantastic donors, supporters and volunteers whose generosity has enabled the foundation to make this significant impact on the western Bay of Plenty today and to build an enduring legacy for tomorrow,” Acorn’s legacy giving manager, Campbell Higgins, adds.
“We hope more and more locals see the unique benefits this type of giving can provide to charitable organisations across the region. We’d love to speak to them about the causes that are closest to their hearts.”
Visit www.acornfoundation.org.nz for a full list of the Acorn’s Foundation’s 2024 distributions or to discover more ways to help others.
