Rotary fund to help secure hospice future

Rotorua's five Rotary clubs have established a named endowment fund with the Geyser Community Foundation to benefit Rotorua Community Hospice.

Rotary spokesperson Judith Stanway said the city's hospice organisation provided a wonderful service.

"The combined Rotary clubs wanted to achieve something as a long-term commitment to supporting hospice in Rotorua and that wouldn't be possible as individual clubs.

"Each club has committed $10,000 to the fund and club members along with members of the public are encouraged to add to [it]," she said.

All donations to the endowment fund would be pooled with others, increasing their effectiveness.

"This means people can make donations of any size, large or small, if they wish," Mrs Stanway said.

"We have chosen Geyser to administer the fund because donors' gifts will remain and the interest earned will be given back to Rotorua Community Hospice, forever."

The Geyser Foundation would handle all the governance, management and administration of the endowment fund.

"There are no costs to people making donations or leaving a gift in their will."

Mrs Stanway said once the fund built up, Rotorua Community Hospice would receive a distribution from it each year.

"The money stays in Rotorua and these funds will benefit people in our local community for the long term.

"We are also very aware that hospice, like many other local community organisations, need funds for operating expenses and the five Rotary clubs can still donate separately to hospice if they wish.

"There are now two ways of supporting hospice.

"The Rotary Rotorua Hospice Fund has been set up for the sustainability of Rotorua Community Hospice in the long term and people can still make donations direct to hospice to help with daily operating costs."

Donations may also attract a tax credit from Inland Revenue, if they fall within the rules.

Anyone wishing to make a donation or leave a bequest in your will to the Geyser Community Foundation Rotary Rotorua Hospice Fund, contact Annette Burgess, executive officer, by phoning (07) 349 7496 or email annette@geysercf.org.nz.

To make a donation to Rotorua Community Hospice, contact Jan Morgan, funding development manager, by phoning (07) 343 6591 or email pr@rotoruahospice.co.nz.