Two key community organizations will now receive continued philanthropic support from a leading Queenstown estate agency.
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (NZSIR) has pledged to support the Wakatipu Community Foundation (WCF) and Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) through the new NZSIR Community Fund.
The agency launched the fund with a base contribution of $30,000 and invited all NZSIR licensees based in the Southern Lakes to also contribute to the corporate fund on a per property sale basis.
NZSIR Chief Executive Mark Harris said the two community-based organizations were ideal beneficiaries of this generous initiative.
“Social responsibility is very important to us as a business and we are delighted to give something back to the Queenstown community,” he said. “We have long talked about pledging our commitment to a certain charity or organization that has a really positive impact on local people and the Wakatipu Community Foundation and Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust are doing amazing work in our area. We are very proud to support this work.
WCF is a non-profit registered charity that facilitates tailored endowments for individuals and families and provides grants to local organizations to benefit the wider community through arts and culture, housing, sports, youth, education and the environment.
WCF chief executive Jennifer Belmont said the charity is delighted to welcome NZSIR on board as a business partner.
“The Wakatipu Community Foundation is delighted to partner with NZSIR and its locals team to provide vital funding to our community groups in the Queenstown Lakes District,” she says. “Not only will the NZSIR Community Fund have an impact today, but it will lead us well into the future. We also admire their leadership for showing how successful businesses can work with – and help – their community. »
Harris invited the NZSIR team of local licensees to become contributors to the fund. The company will then match each agent’s individual contribution, dollar for dollar.
“The fund also provides a vehicle for our team members to make their own personal contributions to the wider community in addition to NZSIR’s contribution,” adds Harris.
Thirty per cent of the NZSIR Community Fund will go to QLCHT – of which NZSIR is the exclusive property backer – to help fund community housing projects in the Queenstown Lake District. Thirty-five percent will go to an NZSIR endowment fund in perpetuity, to raise and return income to WCF on an ongoing basis, while an additional 35 percent will go to an NZSIR impact fund to be distributed to the community annually . The NZSIR will nominate local causes to which the Impact Fund is directed.
Julie Scott, Chief Executive of Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust, said: “This is a unique and innovative concept from NZSIR that we wholeheartedly welcome. With close to 800 households on our waiting list, the demand for affordable and safe housing continues to grow. We are sincerely grateful to NZSIR for these funds which will help us house more families throughout the Queenstown Lake District.
NZSIR is also exploring the establishment of community funds at other New Zealand sites.
“So far the feedback from our teams has been very positive and we look forward to eventually expanding this initiative to other parts of the country through Community Foundations of NZ,” says Harris.
© Scoop Media
