http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.ebcf.nz en-us Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:43:13 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/160616/local-giving-partnership-tees-off-for-junior-golfers/ There is an exciting momentum building across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. It’s a spirit of "local helping local," where businesses and residents are increasingly looking for ways to be part of our local communities and give back. Most recently, this spirit has found its home on the greens of the Whakatāne Golf Club.For many, golf is more than just a sport, it’s a lesson in patience, discipline, and community. The Whakatāne Golf Club has long been a hub for these values, particularly through... Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:53:20 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post160616 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/160615/small-acts-with-big-impact-local-starfish-fund-supports-Opotikist-john-health-shuttle/ The Ōpōtiki St John Health Shuttle is a lifeline for our community, with dedicated volunteers ensuring residents can reach vital health appointments in Whakatāne and Tauranga. Whether it’s a specialist visit, a skin clinic, or essential cancer treatments, the shuttle removes the stress of transport for those who need it most.While the service runs on a koha (donation) basis, the reality is that some patients struggle to meet this cost. To ensure no one is left behind, the Eastern Bay C... Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:40:47 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post160615 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/159751/its-easy-to-give-and-get-your-tax-back/ All around the world, tax rebates - or sometimes government funding that matches your donations[1] - are used to encourage people to donate more to charities and causes. It’s a powerful way to inspire generosity and shows that private donations are truly valued in helping to build strong, vibrant communities.... Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:20:17 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post159751 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/159388/scholarships-making-a-difference-in-the-eastern-bay/ This month Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington announced the first Eastern Bay Education Scholarship recipient, the inaugural recipient of the new Bay Education Fund.It’s a coming together of a generous donor who wishes to make a difference, our Community Foundation and Victoria University working together, connecting with a student from our community doing their best.At the Community Foundation we have learnt that someone believing in you makes such a big difference to the s... Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:10:24 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post159388 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/158221/new-te-puke-community-fund-to-support-local-projects-for-generations/ A new endowment fund has been established that supports the Te Puke community.The Te Puke Community Charitable Trust is pleased to announce that it has re-settled its funds to establish the Te Puke Community Fund in partnership with the Eastern Bay Community Foundation. As a dedicated legacy fund this initiative ensures long-term support for the Te Puke community while protecting the capital gifted by donors.The Trust has held $45,000 in residual funds from the Te Puke Centre project, which will... Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:30:22 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post158221 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/156992/giving-tuesday--beyond-the-spend-fest/ You may have noticed the growing phenomenon of Black Friday which encourages us all to spend, spend, spend in the lead up to Christmas. The Black Friday frenzy originated in the USA, evolving as a chaotic day, directly after Thanksgiving, when crowds of shoppers descend to scoop up bargains. Cyber Monday soon followed, encouraging the shopping frenzy to continue, online.In contrast, Giving Tuesday was a deliberate response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Launched in 2012, th... Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:51:08 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post156992 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/156752/eastern-bay-womens-impact-fund-reaches-190-000-in-giving--announces-local-recipients-for-their-2025-fund/ The Eastern Bay Women’s Impact Fund is a dedicated giving circle focused on empowering women, children, and families in our region and has distributed almost $190,000 to vital local initiatives, since its inception, four years ago.The impact fund recently completed its 2025 grant cycle, with 35 donors gathering at a luncheon last month, to cast their vote for the latest recipients. This giving circle, where local women pool their resources and democratically select projects, ensures maximum co... Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:41:22 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post156752 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/156327/2025-scholarship-awards/ At the recent Eastern Bay Community Foundation Annual Dinner and at the recent Ōpōtiki College Prizegiving we had the pleasure of celebrating and announcing some of the 2025 Scholarship recipients.2025 Rod McPherson Memorial Rural Scholarship2025 Dick Anstis STEM Scholarship2025 Jean Smithson Nursing Scholarship2025 Bridger Family Fund - Trades Scholarship (Ōpōtiki College)2025 Ōpōtiki College Alumni Fund - Tu Kahikitea ScholarshipŌpōtiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund - Outward Bound ... Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:41:09 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post156327 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/154539/eastern-bay-womens-impact-fund-hits-190-000-in-giving-announces-2025-recipient/ The Eastern Bay Women’s Impact Fund is a dedicated giving circle focused on empowering women, children, and families in our region, and will soon have distributed nearly $190,000 to vital local initiatives since its inception four years ago.The impact fund recently completed its 2025 grant cycle, with 35 donors gathering at a luncheon last week to cast their vote for the latest recipient. This giving circle, where women pool their resources and democratically select projects, ensures maximum c... Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:10:59 +1300 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post154539 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/post/152565/why-bequests-matter-more-than-ever/ Many New Zealanders give generously during their lifetime, but far fewer think about the impact they can have by including a gift in their will. With $1.6 trillion expected to transfer between generations by 2050, the scale of this opportunity is immense.Yet only 6% of New Zealanders with a will currently include a charitable gift, compared with nearly 14% in the UK. Closing that gap could unlock billions of dollars for causes that shape our communities today, and into the future.... Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:34:44 +1200 http://www.ebcf.nz/blog/#post152565