Christmas has come early to New Zealand’s South Island. The Dunedin Casino Charitable Trust has gifted local community groups $71,000 for Christmas this year. The second funding round of the year from the Trust is called “the scatter grant” round, where smaller amounts of money are donated to more groups.
Christmas grants have been generously shared around the Otago Region this year.
©Lore Schodts/Unsplash
The Reason for the Season
Along with great food and spending time with loved ones, giving is the reason for the Christmas season. And the Grand Casino in Dunedin has a charitable trust just for this. The second round of grant funding for the year has come out just in time for Christmas.
The Grand Casino also has in-house giveaways throughout December. Along with their 12 Days of Christmas raffle draws, a month of extra daily draws are spicing up the days at the casino as they countdown to Christmas. Games like Crack the Chest, Christmas Candy Canes and Christmas Baubles, are a happy way for adults to play.
A Fun Variety of Christmas Games
In Crack the Chest, patrons guess the four-digit code that guards the chest. The contest will continue until the chest is cracked but with a twist! $50 will be added to the chest with every incorrect guess.
The Christmas Candy Canes Draw has multiple winners. Patrons choose a candy cane from those on display, and a note with its potential cash prize can then be revealed!
In the Christmas Baubles Draw, the lucky casino-goer selects one bauble from the giant Grand Christmas Tree, with chances to win prizes and Promo Dollars.
From the 13th of December, the 12 Days of Christmas Draws will be held. There are over 75 draws, and the prize for the final draw on Christmas Eve is $1,000 in cash!
On top of their festive season extras, there’s also the casino’s regular Saturday night live music shows, and Monday to Friday Happy Hours to enjoy.
Otago Region Grants
In relation to the Grants, the chair of the Dunedin Casino Charitable Trust said, “We look forward to November’s round, as we get to spread money far and wide. It’s a positive and nice way to end the year. Just before Christmas is a lovely time to support worthwhile organisations, most of whom are powered by volunteers.”
The Momentum Charitable Trust is one such organisation. It works with people on probation and still in prison, to reduce their likelihood of ending up back behind bars. Teaching life skills, like financial literacy, how to apply for jobs and write C.V.’s, and goal-setting, are all part of what Momentum does. They also team up with other “independent of the system” organisations for services that those leaving prison holistically need, like accommodation.
$5,000 was awarded to Otago Community Hospice in this latest Christmas funding round. They provide palliative care to the terminally ill and give support to their families. They are using their grant to buy a pair of syringe drivers for both in- and outpatient use, as well as use in the community. All of their services are free of charge, including the Hospice Inpatient Unit.
They provide lounge, bathroom and kitchen facilities to friends and family of their patients. There is even the Craigs Hospice Foundation House where loved ones of the terminally ill can stay, on site. The Hospice helped over 850 patients in 22-23. The Hospice relies on fundraising to pay for all its services. If you’re called to help them out, head over to Otago Community Hospice website to donate.
The Nest Collective NZ Charitable Trust was given $3,000 by Grand Casino to help with providing essential products to newborns. Their “packs” are items that the baby will need in its first year of life, like bedding, toiletries, and toys. They rely on donations and volunteer crafters to sew and knit homemade blankets, clothes, play mats, toys, masks, reusable nappies, and breast milk pads, etc. They are completely volunteer-run and work alongside community social workers.
The CEO of Grand Casino, Dominique Dowding, said that the Trust plays an important role in the Otago area.
“The wide range of initiatives is to be applauded, particularly the efforts of all volunteers who give their time in extraordinary ways to help others. Giving back sits at the heart of our community and I am proud the trust can play its part.”
