Giving Stories



DONORS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Leaving a bequest in your Will to Momentum Waikato's Endowment Fund is a special way to honour the Waikato community. Big or small, your gift will make a positive difference, now and for future generations.

It is simple and easy to create a real legacy. Working with your professional advisor, we offer our expert knowledge to tailor a giving solution that brings to life your values and is structured in the way you want.

Through our Waikato Endowment Fund, gifts are invested in perpetuity, and returns can then be granted to the charities or social enterprises the donor cares about and/or the changemakers we have identified.

We use independent professional investment managers, Craigs Investment Partners and JBWere, to provide expert fund management and advice.

Below are stories from local folks who have chosen Momentum Waikato to realise their aspirations for their community. Some have chosen to commit a bequest in their Will to the Waikato Endowment Fund and the projects it supports, others are targeting the investment income from their bequest or donations towards the causes or needs of their choice, while others are supporting our Transformational Projects, such as the Waikato Regional Theatre.

Donella enjoys simple and perpetual charitable giving

Donella Graney likes to give back to her community, so being in a position to do so, has made regular donations to a range of local and national charities for some years.

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‘A tree with many leaves of opportunity’ for Maaori in health

The determination that others must follow in her footsteps has led a successful young doctor to team up with a senior colleague to create a new philanthropic investment fund dedicated to getting more Maaori into the health sector.

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Waikato business owners dedicating their profits to passion

Heather and Rod Claycomb are seeing lives changed across the world thanks to their unique family charity that supports social entrepreneurs to start new businesses for the benefit of people in need.

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Bunny’s bequest grows Mortimer legacy

Throughout their lifetimes, Bunny and John Mortimer were exceptionally generous and supportive to their community, most notably with their gifting of Taitua Arboretum to the city of Hamilton.

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'Our gift to the Waikato will flow on into the future'

Leaving a bequest in their Wills towards the future of the Waikato is an important priority for a couple looking to give back to the region they love to call home.

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Theatre an investment in kids’ future: Feisst

A top company director’s passion for supporting young people has prompted him to back the Waikato Regional Theatre.

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Admark chief: a real city needs a top theatre

A successful local businessman says the Waikato Regional Theatre will be essential infrastructure for Hamilton’s development as a world-beating cosmopolitan city.

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A Quiet Act of Generosity - the sequel

Back in 2016 we published a ‘Giving Story’ that told of a local lawyer who, when meeting a client to plan their will, raised the possibility of a bequest and the advantages of investing it for sustainable returns...

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Donation Targeted at Music Gear

A stalwart of Hamilton’s vibrant musical theatre scene has targeted his donation for the Waikato Regional Theatre towards its music stands, because he is expecting to see them used by some of the world’s...

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An Endowment Fund is the Key to Longevity and Effectiveness

A desire for her and her siblings’ grandchildren to have an equal opportunity to achieve is why Nancy Caiger got involved in an initiative focused on the needs and aspirations of local women and girls...

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An entrepreneur and her philosophy of giving

Putting community first has always been a part of Cheryl Reynolds’ philosophy. Beginning as a young entrepreneur and artist in the UK, she launched Focal Point Gallery in 1991, which provided...

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Theatre Donor Fuelled by Family and Community

Momentum Waikato loves to celebrate the spirit of giving – and it’s certainly easy to celebrate when people like Gillian Spry are part of this community. Gillian was the first person to put her hand up...

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Hamilton Club Honors its Past with a Generous Legacy

Momentum Waikato understands how difficult it can be to dis-establish a club or society. We can offer you a cost-effective fund management service, giving you peace of mind that your funds will be invested wisely...

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Amanda's Story

This is the story of a woman who has always wanted more – not for herself; but always for others. Amanda B inspires us at Momentum Waikato Community Foundation for many reasons.

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A Quiet Act of Generosity

Timing and opportunity are both features of success. Recently, a Hamilton lawyer who is familiar with the work of Momentum Waikato, met with their client to update her will.

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Trust Waikato's $15m Donation sets the stage for new theatre

Momentum Waikato is incredibly grateful to Trust Waikato for committing to a $15 million grant for the Waikato Regional Theatre this month. Trust Waikato’s leadership and commitment to our region means...

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The Tanner Story

Jon and Sue Tanner lead by example. Growing up in the Waikato they were taught how important it was to be generous with their time, money and energy into things that mattered.

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The Crosby Story

Bernie and Kaye Crosby remember well the dump site that is now Hamilton Gardens. The couple professes to have inherited the “green gene” from their ancestors and have followed with interest the...

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John and Bunny's Story

John and Bunny Mortimer recently made a financial decision that will have an effect on the Waikato forever. Their desire to share nature with others long past their own lifetimes led them to Momentum Waikato...

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