Bill ThomsonA new community foundation is to be launched for the benefit of the Clutha District, and will have former prime minister Sir William English as its patron. The Clutha Foundation will be officially launched in Balclutha on August 17, with the aim of simplifying philanthropic giving to the South Otago community. Mr Thomson drew comparisons with the ''Advance Ashburton'' community foundation, which managed a fund of $10million, and anticipated bequests of more than $30million, for the current and future benefit of the Ashburton community. More than $6.4million in grants was disbursed nationwide by New Zealand's 16 community foundations last year, Community Foundations of NZ chairwoman Stacey Scott said. Clutha Foundation patron will be former prime minister, and long-serving Clutha-Southland MP, Sir William.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 02, 2018 19:18 UTC