The Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust has secured its first major support pledge with EIT Hawke’s Bay and Cottages New Zealand donating money raised from the sale of a cottage built by students.
Building apprentices studying at EIT Hawke’s Bay have built a cottage based on building plans provided by local firm Cottages New Zealand.
The two bedroom cottage has a reserve of $60,000 and could fetch up to the normal retail price of a $120,000 when auctioned by Napier MP Chris Tremain on August 15 at Cottages NZ’s offices and showrooms in Maraekakaho Road in Hastings.
Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust spokesperson Damon Harvey said the Trust was rapt to get a funding boost as it continued with its vision of motivating Hawke’s Bay youth to participate in sport and recreation activities.
“It’s fantastic to have the support of EIT Hawke’s Bay and Cottages NZ. Both these organisations have similar beliefs that youth who participate in sport are more motivated, have higher self esteem and are focused on achieving.
“The aim of the Trust is to make a long term contribution to youth in Hawke’s Bay and the initial gifting of $750,000 by Jarrod gave us a great start but if we are to give long term, we need support from the business community,” Mr Harvey said.
Another auction item expected to get a lot of interest is a two ticket package to the All Blacks test match against Australia in Wellington. The package includes meeting the All Blacks and is aimed at a father and son or daughter.
Fellow Trustee Tony Maidens sent an email to former Hawke’s Bay coach and current All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith a day out from the All Black’s first test against South Africa asking if they could provide an opportunity for two people to meet the All Blacks.
“I got an email back almost immediately, despite it being early morning in South Africa, saying it would be no problem and that the auction item could be a meeting the team at the captains training run a day out from the test.
“They then also offered us two tickets to the game, tickets that we thought we would need to buy,” Mr Maidens said.
The Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sport Trust recently donated $5000 in support of the Hawke’s Bay Sport and Recreation Expo. It will announce several other support initiatives over the next two months.
