Plunket’s new high deprivation car seat programme – Car Seats for Life – is off to a great start with funding being granted by the Mazda Foundation.

The $7,500 grant will purchase 60 new car seats to be given to families who live in high deprivation areas.

Matthew Reweti-Gould, Plunket’s Database Marketing Executive, says, “The impact of the Mazda Foundation’s grant is two-fold, firstly, it will enable at-risk children to receive a car seat. Secondly, it will create a flow-on effect, enabling regional car seat rental offices to set affordable, yet sustainable prices.”

Currently, Plunket rents car seats to low income households at an affordable rate, to ensure children are protected. However, renting car seats to families who have a high risk of defaulting has created financial strain for Plunket. Serving high deprivation families can be difficult which is why instead of renting car seats to these families they will now receive a car seat for life, at no cost.

A $1,014 grant to Flat Bush School in Otara, South Auckland, will see two brave Christchurch Students travel up to Auckland for an unforgettable school camp.

Following the February earthquake, two Year Six students from Bromley School in Christchurch enrolled to attend Flat Bush School as their school had been closed from earthquake damage.

The two Christchurch students have since returned to Christchurch but Louise Turner, Associate Principal of Flat Bush School tells of the effect the girls had on the school.

“During their stay at Flat Bush, the girls’ resilience and positive attitudes had a significant impact on both our staff and students,” says Louise.

Flat Bush School will use the Mazda Foundation Grant to fund a trip for both girls to come back up to South Auckland to join Flat Bush School’s Year Six students on a week long camp in November.

“Not only would participating in the camp allow the girls to be involved in a wide range of outdoor pursuits but it would also give them some respite in what has been a truly traumatic year,” says Louise.

Nine-year-old Chase Annan from Ngaruawahia is on a mission to fulfil his dream of a white Christmas in New York. After a lot of hard work saving and fundraising; he received an extra $2,500 donation from the Mazda Foundation.

Chase has Cystic Fibrosis which requires daily treatment and medication, as well as regular trips to the hospital, usually during school holidays. On top of this, Chase deals with learning disabilities which have seen him fall behind his peers.

But Chase has developed his own approach to life that doesn’t let his condition get in the way of what he wants to accomplish. Instead, Chase sets himself goals and strives to achieve them.

Chase is a keen sportsman and is dedicated to doing his best for the team. He plays soccer and attends every practice and game; he excels in triathlons and cross country, having won his age group twice; and he played on the school basketball team and was the most enthusiastic player on the court.

Chase’s Mum, Donna Anan, says, “Chase is a true kiwi example of how goal setting can change your life. He has taught us that dealing with the hand you’re dealt and enjoying what you have, can lead to a life well lived.”

Chase’s wish is to experience a white Christmas in New York, just like his hero 10-year-old Kevin McCallister from his favourite movie, Home Alone 2. With his grant from the Mazda Foundation, Chase will be able to ice skate in Central Park, visit the UN and meet up with Helen Clark, go to the Lion King on Broadway and a New York ice hockey game.

Students at Mangawhai Beach School will be strumming their hearts out with a new set of ukuleles funded by a $900 grant from the Mazda Foundation.

The school currently has a limited music department consisting of borrowed musical instruments, limiting the students who all share a keen interest in music.

Ross Perkinson, Chairman of the Mangawhai Beach School Board of Trustees, says, “We are so excited to introduce the students to a full set of ukuleles.

“We think that learning to play and perform a musical instrument is a very important part of the curriculum, especially as many children do not have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument at home.”

Selected students will be taught to play by two talented music teachers. By next year the school hopes to take the students to the New Zealand Ukulele Festival.

Massey Primary School will soon be harvesting from their new orchard thanks to a $1,783 grant from the Mazda Foundation.

The school plans to use the fund to plant an orchard in a bid to offer healthier lunch options for students. The fruit will be available to all students and their whanau.

Tina Hodson, Massey Primary School’s Fundraiser, says, “We hope to include all the school children in this project, starting with the layout and planting of the trees.

“Our aim is to educate the children about the value of fresh fruit by involving them in the planting, growing and harvesting process.”

The school is looking forward to the numerous benefits the orchard will bring, including increased immunity which will lower absentee rates; improved attention and achievement levels; and a reduction in littering within school grounds.

New Zealanders will be able to easily find their way through the Southland Wetland Heritage Trail courtesy of a $2,100 grant which will go towards producing a brochure of the area.

The extra funding provided by the Mazda Foundation will support the National Wetland Trust’s aim of helping people visit wetlands safely. The organisation is currently working with the Southland Wetlands Working Party to build a fun walking and driving trail for visitors to enjoy and learn about wetlands in this magnificent part of the country.

Karen Denyer, Executive Officer of the National Wetland Trust, says, “We would like to get more New Zealanders to visit and appreciate New Zealand’s rare and special wetlands. By encouraging visitors to these beautiful sites, we hope to teach them about the value they bring to the environment.

“We believe that the greater their understanding and appreciation for the wetlands, the more they will want to get involved in community wetland restoration projects.”

The brochures will be complete with maps, directions, images and information to guide visitors through these sites. They will feature pages on the special flora and fauna of the Southland wetlands, explain why wetlands are important and how people can help to look after them.

The driving trail will take visitors to seven wetlands, from the internationally significant Awarua-Waituna wetlands near Invercargill, northwest to Te Anau and looping back.

A grant to the Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Society of Canterbury will be used to provide families with parents living with Multiple Sclerosis with a fun excursion during the school holidays.

The Society’s $1,680 grant will pay for both parents and children to go on day trips during the school holidays to the movies and ten pin bowling, with no cost to the families.

Lindsey Kerr, Project Coordinator of the Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Society, says, “This event allows children to have fun while alleviating some of the energy their parents put in, through the extra help of staff on hand during the day.

“The parents can enjoy a free and social day chatting with other members with similar conditions, a rare opportunity for those still working and trying to run the household.”

The Society has provided professional support, care and information to people who live with Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s for over 40 years. This school holiday programme is an essential service that the Society provides and is a great way for families to engage with others in their community.

A talented Auckland composer and musician who was left a tetraplegic following a BMX accident in 2004 will be able to complete his Master of Music thanks to a Mazda Foundation grant.

Andrew McMillan, 38, will use his $4,050 grant to purchase a laptop computer and software which will allow him to complete his study at home where he can access the round the clock support he needs.

“I have a real passion for creating new and original music with a distinct local flavour. This grant will help me to achieve this as the technology I plan to purchase will allow me to control and manipulate sounds with the small amount of movement I have,” says McMillan.

Andrew’s Masters study will focus on electronic composition and performance and when completed will complement his other qualifications including a Diploma in Jazz Studies from the Christchurch Jazz School, a Post Graduate Certificate in Jazz Contemporary and Popular Music from Leeds College of Music (UK) and a Bachelor of Music (first class honours) degree from the University of Auckland School of Music.

A $5,000 grant to Angelslight Breakfast Club in South Auckland will help the programme’s volunteers to provide nourishing breakfasts to hungry school children.

The grant will be used to purchase two commercial dishwashers which will allow volunteers to clean up quickly and ensure the programme’s extremely strict hygiene standards are adhered to.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant. It’s going to help our volunteers to run our breakfast programme in a more efficient way,” says Leanne Rohloff, Fundraising Coordinator for Angelslight Breakfast Club.

“We know that when children are hungry they are unable to learn. We serve the students a nourishing breakfast and send them off to class ready to start their day.”

The club is part of the Papakura Christian Services Trust and has been providing free and nutritious breakfasts to children at five Papakura schools over the past 10 years and has more schools waiting to join the programme.

East Otago High School’s $4,475 grant was music to the students’ ears with teaching staff using the funds to purchase a set of ukuleles and recording equipment for the music department.

With an increasing number of students showing an interest in studying music, the school has committed a great deal of time in recent years to developing the music department and stocking it with resources.

“We are focused on fostering our students’ interest in the arts and encouraging them to try something new,” says Rick Geerlofs, Principal of East Otago High School. “Having the new instruments on hand will help us to avoid the stop start stigma that can often quell the enthusiasm of students when learning a new instrument.”

East Otago High School provides all students with the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through the Instrumental Music Programme. Instruments include the flute, saxophone, violin, drums, guitar, keyboard and double bass.