Guardian Trust Distributes over $198,000 to Southland Health and Community Causes

For 26 years, the charitable trust of a South Island widower has provided financial support to Southland community organisations. Set up to fund research into heart conditions and support Southland’s children in perpetuity, the William and Gwenda Sybil Dick Trust is this month making another sizeable distribution to three local charities.

Guardian Trust, who administers the charitable trust, is distributing nearly $190,000 to the Southland Medical Foundation, Presbyterian Support and the Salvation Army. The Southland Medical Foundation will receive over $94,000; the Invercargill branch of Presbyterian Support more than $47,000; and the Salvation Army more than $47,000.

Over the past two decades, generous regular grants have been made to all three organisations, bringing the Dick Trust’s donations to these causes to a total of more than $1.6 million since 2003.

Guardian Trust Client Manager Gary Anderson said the distribution highlighted how enduring giving is possible when facilitated with a charitable trust.

“The Dick Trust is just one example of how quality wealth management can serve long-term philanthropic giving. Our objective in managing the trust is to grow the funds year-on-year to permit regular distributions in support of the trust’s chosen causes. This case demonstrates what a well-managed trust can achieve over many years.”

William Dick was moved to establish the trust in October 1985 by his wife, who passed away from a cardiac condition.

The Southland Medical Foundation, which was set up 45 years ago to support medical education and research among health sector workers, has used previous Dick Trust grants to sponsor research into cardiac disease at the University of Otago, send nurses and other medical personnel to conferences and courses, and purchase cardiac monitoring equipment for Gore Hospital.

The services that Presbyterian Support Southland offers through Family Works have seen a massive increase in referrals during the past two years, said Presbyterian Support Southland chief executive Noel Hassed. “Money received from the Dick Trust has been a critical part of our overall funding mix as we struggle to cope with the demand for our services from families in our community.

“The funds we are given help us provide ongoing assistance to children – who are often being cared for by extended family or foster parents – and, specifically, enable us to give them clothing and equipment and facilitate activities so they can get involved in the same pastimes as other children.”

The Salvation Army uses Dick Trust funding in its provision of vital services to at-risk youth in Southland. The funding support has been used to provide young people with camping experiences, counseling and mentoring.

The funds from the Dick Trust are used exclusively within the Southern Division of the Salvation Army for children and youth work in Southland.