It’s been a whirlwind and enjoyable first six weeks in the Top of the South Community Foundation Executive Officer seat, and it’s now a real pleasure to be saying a formal ‘hi’ to our followers and supporters.
I’m thrilled to be involved with the Foundation and thank the Trustees for giving me an opportunity to help grow the organisation and contribute to making our community a stronger and better place in which to live.

As some of you may be aware, I also have a role with New Zealand Cricket as a BLACKCAPS selector. This new Foundation role works in well with my cricket commitments. During my time away this summer I will be taking advantage of the travel opportunity to link up with other Community Foundations around NZ, with an aim to bringing back the ‘best of the best’ to the Top of the South.

We are now moving forward and gaining some nice momentum. Forming relationships around the community is naturally a massive part of my role, and already I have met any number of enthusiastic and ‘giving’ individuals and business leaders.

As Dave has mentioned in his Chair article, we have our AGM scheduled for 5pm, Tuesday 24 November at the BNZ Partners Centre in Nelson. Following the formalities of the AGM we’re having a drinks and nibbles ‘meet and greet’ at 5.45pm, along with a couple of speeches.
If you would like to attend the AGM, the function, or both, please don’t hesitate to contact us. I’d enjoy meeting up with you.

Finally, I thought I’d outline why I have got involved in the Foundation.
I’ll be honest and admit that I didn’t know much about the seventeen Community Foundations in New Zealand. When I got up to speed though I quickly realised that the Community Foundation model is a unique one, and a special way of offering donors an opportunity to have a positive impact in their community.
Most importantly, this giving can be tailored in any way they wish.

My wife Karen and I are now personally gifting (Living Giving we call it), and we are currently working through our estate planning with the intention of leaving a gift in due course. It’s a warm feeling knowing our regular contributions will be assisting community organisations that are dear to our hearts, as well as at some stage in future (hopefully many years from now!) also leaving an ongoing legacy.
Encouraging and inspiring generosity is what the Top of the South Community Foundation is all about. I hope reading this inspires you to get in touch, or to spread the word.

Please call me at any time if you want to discuss how we can help you support the causes you love.
In the meantime, we’re planning to make Foundation newsletters a more regular means of sharing what we’re up to, so you’ll hear more from me in due course.

Kind regards

Gavin