Inspire Foundation grants announced

An inspirational address by keynote speaker Mike Allsop helped set the tone for the latest Inspire Foundation Marlborough grantees awards evening.

Mike - an adventurer, Everest mountaineer and extreme marathon competitor – was a guest at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre as the Foundation announced their latest batch of grants and re-grants. Also on hand to offer his words, expertise and support to the grantees was local hero Joseph Sullivan, an Inspire ambassador.

Since the Inspire Foundation Marlborough came into being in this region in November 2017, 38 grantees have been recognised.

Added to the list on Wednesday evening were rowers Fred Vavasour and Meg Flanagan, from Marlborough Boys’ College and Marlborough Girls’ College respectively, singers Rosie McAllister and Iona Panoho and Queen Charlotte Yacht Club sailor Jack Bennett.

Re-grants were issued to rower Kobe Miller, forensic anthropologist Stephie Loncar, classical ballet exponent Samantha Grammer and community leader George Glover.

To qualify for a grant, applicants must be aged between 15 and 23 years of age, a resident of Marlborough for at least three years with New Zealand Citizenship and have demonstrated extraordinary ability or potential in any of the areas of Arts, IT, Design, Music, Science, Research, Education, Sport or Community Service.

Inspire Foundation chairman Mark Davis said, “If you know an outstanding 15-23-year-old Marlburian, with the drive and passion to make it to the top, whatever their discipline, please visit Marlborough.inspirefoundation.co.nz and apply for the next round of grants.

“When our new grantees step up to receive their rewards I am reminded every time what extraordinary young people there are in our province, aiming high.”