A long-standing local charitable trust has thrown its support behind the newly created Alzheimers South Canterbury Fund.
The St Vianney’s Timaru Trust has pledged up to $50,000 towards the fund in a dollar-fordollar match-giving campaign, meaning St Vianney’s will double any donations made to the new Alzheimer’s fund, up to a maximum of $50,000.
St Vianney’s Timaru Trust chairman Dale Walden said Alzheimers SC manager Rosie Chambers had recently given trustees an insight into the extent of work the organisation did in the community.
He said each of the trustees had personal experiences themselves with close family or friends suffering from dementia.
“Rosie’s presentation was an eye-opener. She and her small team do a huge amount of work in our community which covers a significant area.
‘‘The number of patients is increasing at an alarming rate and of course, this also brings in the wider family and friends group who are also indirectly affected,” Mr Walden said.
The St Vianney’s Timaru Trust wanted to support Alzheimers South Canterbury, and when trustees read about the newly created fund with the Aoraki Foundation they knew it was a great way to help.
The Sisters of Compassion, who ran the Home of Compassion before it closed, were the settlers of the St Vianney’s Trust.
During their years in Timaru the sisters cared for many people who suffered from both Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Mr Walden said the donation continued the work that the sisters did in the community and recognised that they continued to give back to the community that supported them when they operated the Home of Compassion.
Rather then just a one-time gift, the St Vianney’s trustees wanted to encourage others to support the Alzheimer South Canterbury Fund.
If the campaign is fully successful, it will mean a $100,000 kick-start to the Alzheimer’s South Canterbury Fund.
Aoraki Foundation chief executive Richard Spackman said matched giving was a great way to encourage further charitable gifts.
‘‘It is very satisfying to have your donation doubled and ‘unlock’ the pledge made by St Vianney’s.
‘‘The good news doesn’t stop there, with an Aoraki Foundation donor already committing to a $12,500 gift which will be doubled to $25,000.
“This donor was delighted to hear about the new Alzheimer’s fund, and hearing that St Vianney’s will match his gift was the icing on the cake,” Mr Spackman said.
“Thanks to this generosity we are already a quarter of the way to the goal of unlocking this pledge.
‘‘We could not be more grateful to our donor and the St Vianney’s Timaru Trust.”
