A belief in the future of Carterton and a simple conviction to do the right thing has led one of the town’s largest employers to make a $30,000 donation to the town’s new multi-purpose communitycentre, currently under construction.
Carterton New World owner/operators Jeff and Katie Yates last week made the largest local donation to the centre to date, a gesture which has shifted the community fundraising effort closer to the $1.5 million target set to assist the centre’s construction.
“We enjoy the patronage and support of the town which is fantastic and we believe we have a moral obligation to invest in the future of community we do business in,” Jeff Yates said. “Giving something back in this way was just the right thing to do.”
“This is much more than supporting a building project. It’s about investing in the future of all people in this district,” Jeff Yates said. “Looking at some early pictures of the Carterton recently, we became acutely aware of how rural New Zealand has not reinvested in itself in modern times. If we don’t throw our support behind this this project now, where is our community going to be in 20 years’ time?”
The couple see the single largest donation they have ever made as not money lost but becoming an enduring asset that can be enjoyed by not only Carterton, but the wider region over decades to come.
Jeff and Katie Yates hope that other local and regional businesses will follow suit. “There is no doubt times are hard but hopefully we can encourage more other businesses to step up. It just makes total sense.”
The Carterton Events Centre Trust formed to help fund the centre’s construction has raised more than $1.2 million of the $1.5 million target.
“We are delighted with this generous contribution from Carterton New World which comes at a critical time,” trust chairman John Greenwood said. “We encourage every other local business to consider how they can support their future by investing in this project. Any contribution, small or large is welcome, whether it’s a $100 engraved brick or one of the tiered donation options.” One third of any donation over $5 is refundable through tax rebates.
The council-owned centre in Holloway Street will open in October this year. It will include a full restoration and extension of New Zealand’s oldest working public library, and a new town hall/auditorium able to host performing arts, cultural and activities, exhibitions, conferences and social events. A youth centre will provide a robust, dedicated space for young people and children will benefit from new Plunket rooms and a toy library. A large foyer will double as an art exhibition area and information centre. Modern meeting rooms will provide comfortable places where locals and visitors can gather.
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