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$1,455,788 DISTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES IN 2025
$17,620,374 TOTAL DISTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES

Tess and Michael Fund

How we came to support the Auckland Foundation

“We first heard of Auckland Foundation as clients of Craigs Investment Partners. Craigs shared a link to the learn more about community foundation’s, whom they partner with. It contained interesting stories about organizations and people that benefited from the community foundation model and the work they do in their local area. It spoke of the opportunity for investors to contribute to the local Foundation’s so they could give back and support charitable activity and make a real difference. This can be achieved by leaving a gift in your Will or living giving, where you can see the difference your generosity makes.

The stories really captured Tess’ and my heart and seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to continue supporting the charities we held dearly beyond our working life. We decided that when the time came, we would set a benefit up in perpetuity.

The following years saw Tess’s health deteriorate until her passing in 2024. While arranging Tess’s affairs I approached our investment advisors at Craigs for an introduction. This led to a phone conference with Tim Kay, who explained in more detail what Auckland Foundation did, its investment objectives and how I could structure my giving.

My lawyer suggested I could put the proceeds of my life policy towards charities, but this complicated my Will. After speaking with Tim some more it occurred to me it was best to set up a Donor Advisory Fund (DAF) now in Tess’s name rather than wait. It would also be nice to see the results of the Fund and how it benefited the causes we supported. Our family now has a program implemented so that the Fund can grow over time.

We are incredibly grateful for the sixty years Tess was with us, and I was lucky to be her partner for thirty of those years.

With the help of Tim and Auckland Foundation we were able to make Tess’s wishes a reality and support the charities and causes she loved.

It is also a pleasure to be a part of Auckland Foundation and see the excellent work it does to help improve the outcomes for the people of Auckland now and in the future. As a way of promoting the love of humanity Auckland Foundation is an excellent model that provides the means to achieve this.”

- Michael K

 

Compared to her gold is just a pinch of sand,
Shining silver, mud,
She is more radiant than the sun.
Richer than gold is her love.