Taupo Moana Rotary Grants benefit groups

Taupo Moana distributed over $22,000 in grants earlier this month. The money, which comes out of the money raised by the Cycle Challenge is boosted by the Mayoral salary donated by Mayor Rick Cooper, was distributed to nineteen different community organisations or groups from around the district.

The requests for assistance varied widely from long serving groups like Plunket, the Red Cross and RNZ Foundation for the Blind, to very new groups like the Aspergers Support and the Dyslexia Support Taupo. This group which was formed by six concerned parents earlier in the year already had 60 – 70 people on their mailing list and approximately 15 – 20 parents attending meetings. They applied for funding to put together information packs.

Club President Lynley McCaughan said not only is it an honour but quite a responsibility to be tasked with administering the fund, “our process is very inclusive with all members of the Taupo Moana Rotary Club having an equal say on how the money is allocated. There are so many deserving groups out there and we really enjoy being able to assist where possible,” she said.

Other groups that received grants were: Literacy Lake Taupo; Taupo Community Group; Bike Taupo; Rescue Helicopter; Waiora Community Trust; Lake Taupo Hospice; Kaingaroa Forest School; Waipahihi Botanical Society; Family Financial Solutions; Community Foodbank; Taupo 4 Seasons Playgroup; Cyclemania; Womens Refuge; Tauhara College.

Mrs McCaughan says the next round of grants will be distributed early next year and the details will be advertised widely at the time.