So says the Aotearoa Gaming Trust CEO Karen Shea, who's organisation funds the Otago Medical Research Foundation's Summer Scholarship Programme along with Annual Grants.
The Aotearoa Gaming Trust is a community-focused gaming trust based in Dunedin, which provides funding to a diverse range of organisations and communities right across the country including amateur sport, education, community purposes, welfare organisations, arts and culture.
The Trust has long been a supporter of the Foundation; in fact, Ms Shea says the relationship's gone from strength to strength as they appreciate just how much it benefits the community.
"The foundation does a great job of building relationships in the region and identifying what funders need; it's an asset we should all be proud of," she said.
Over the last few years the Trust has focused on supporting the Foundation's scholarship programme.
"We feel it is a really good fit for us because the benefits for the wider community are significant – for the students, the University, the Otago region, and for contributing to medical knowledge. It's been extremely worthwhile."
"Sponsoring a student through a scholarship helps University staff develop their research ideas; this seed funding can potentially take a project a long way. We are in awe of some of the projects we have supported over recent years."
"And for the student, having a scholarship over summer is more than just holiday employment. It provides an incentive in what is a highly competitive study environment and opens student's eyes to the opportunities. We're retaining knowledge and brain power, developing careers, and showing students that Dunedin has opportunities for long-term employment."
"To me, that is a very positive and a proactive way of community support for both the Foundation and for the Trust."
(Profile written 2019)