Cambridge is a very “can do” town that doesn’t wait for things to happen; people make things happen, says Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Wickham.
Fund launched, from left Momentum Waikato chief executive David Christiansen, chair Neil Richardson, fund founders David Cooney and Kevin Burgess, Rowing NZ CEO Simon Wickham and mayor Susan O’Regan. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Speaking at the launch of the Cambridge Community Fund last week, the former CEO of Momentum Waikato – a community foundation that manages several endowment funds – said he was first approached by businessmen Kevin Burgess and David Cooney to establish a fund.
Community foundations are independent trusts that enable generous people, from all walks of life and of any income, to grow their charitable donations and continue their giving forever.
Burgess and Cooney were specific about the fund – they wanted it to be by Cambridge and for Cambridge.
“Cambridge is a town where people don’t wait for things to happen. It’s not a town full of people moving their hands together wondering what the government will do for them or worrying about things they can’t control,” said Wickham.
“This fund has the potential to give back to Cambridge now and forever.”
A section of the community invited to the launch of the Cambridge Community Fund at Te Awa Lifecare. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
He gave the example of the Kiri Walker fund, set up in 2018 with an original gift of $500,000. The fund has gifted $615,000 and as a legacy fund now had $886,000 to continue giving back forever.
Wickham started at Rowing New Zealand last month and told the audience he had recently bought a house in Cambridge to live in with his family.
He previously served as deputy chair of the New Zealand Olympic committee, was on the board for 12 years and at the decision-making table of high performance decisions for more than 20 years.
He was a member of Cycling New Zealand’s integrity steering committee to help transform cycling’s high performance culture and practices.
The number of medal winning and high performance athletes who chose Cambridge as their town was over represented in national statistics, he said.
“They are the benefactors of a great place to live and a great place to train.”
Former Momentum chief executive, now with Rowing New Zealand and a resident of Cambridge, talks about why he supported the Cambridge Community Fund. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Cooney said both he and Burgess – who he described as “kindred spirits” when it came to Cambridge – were hell bent on establishing a funding mechanism which would help the town.
Momentum Waikato was the perfect platform with some local refinements. They insisted staff at Cambridge investment firm Forsyth Barr should be involved.
Cooney also acknowledged the role former mayor Alan Livingston has played. He has been involved in getting three halls of fame to the Cambridge Velodrome.
“Donations to the Cambridge Community Fund support charitable activities and projects in the town, as identified by a team of locals,” said Burgess.
Under Momentum’s ‘smarter giving’ model donations or bequests to the Cambridge Community Fund will still be supporting the town and community for many decades to come.
An advisory and distribution committee made up of locals decides annually how the fund’s investment income will be granted out. Specific funding priorities will develop over time.
This could take many forms, from capital projects for the community, to scholarships for local students to develop skills that they then bring home, from the general to the specific.
David Cooney
Kevin Burgess
Momentum chair Neil Richardson launches the Cambridge Community Fund at Te Awa Lifecare. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
