Student gives winnings to charity

Tauranga Riding for the Disabled has received a $250 donation from the winner of the 2013 TrustPower Tauranga Youth Community Spirit Award.

Thea James from Aquinas College was named as winner of the Award, which recognises secondary school students’ service to the school and the community. The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the Tauranga City Council and is part of the TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards which were presented last night (Monday 13 May).

For winning the Award Thea received a framed certificate and $250, with an additional $250 being donated to Tauranga Riding for the Disabled.

Kat Macmillan of Tauranga Riding for the Disabled says it is fantastic for the organisation to receive this money from Thea.

“We are so proud of Thea and grateful for all her support and contributions to Tauranga Riding for the Disabled.

We will be purchasing a much needed light weight wheelbarrow with the donation, so that volunteers like Thea can enjoy a superior barrow when they are helping us,” Says Mrs Macmillan.



TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award is a wonderful opportunity to publicly acknowledge the work young people do to enrich their community.

“Often young people receive a lot of negative attention and we forget the tremendous input that they provide to the fabric of our community. Thea is a great example of a student doing just that.

She is an outstanding young woman who truly knows the value of community spirit. She gives so much of her time to her school and even more so to her community.

It is exciting to know that we have these up and coming volunteers who will continue to give back to their communities,” says Mrs Partridge.

comments powered by Disqus