About
OUR PHILOSOPHY
When a wealthy couple approached Mother Theresa asking how much to give, she replied “Give till it hurts”.
Aotea Great Barrier Island is a beautiful, isolated community in the outer reaches of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf facing a number of critical issues such as housing, health resources, environmental impacts, and increasing social inequity.
While it is one of poorest areas in the Auckland region it has a history of giving – there are more volunteer community groups here that together manage our social, health, environment, art, history, food resilience, and housing matters than anywhere else in Auckland.
Outside funding organisations including the Local Board and Auckland Council have been stalwart funders of our community groups, but this is changing and there is insufficient resource available to meet some real community needs as well as some of the more ambitious projects long dreamed of.
So, Aotea Philanthropy is a private initiative to bridge a gap between the needs and those community members and supporters with the capacity and willingness to give. The intention is that collectively we can all be more effective kaitiaki of Aotea.
Aotea Philanthropy is not a registered charitable trust. Rather it provides a central point of facilitation, coordination, and communication. Donations will be directed straight to the cause itself rather than through us as intermediaries.
Founders
The three founders have diverse experience in business, not for profit organisations and philanthropy as well as a long association with Aotea. They pledge to foster conversations with various parties needing support as well as their potential supporters.
Who we are
Judy Gilbert – Windy Hill
Carol Comer – Gooseberry Flat
Sandy Burgham – Oruawharo Medlands Beach