Springboard founders Michelle and Gary Diprose.
Snells Beach-based charity Springboard Community Works made it to the semi-finals of the Community of the Year Award on February 22.
The award recognises the contribution organisations make to their communities and forms part of the New Zealander of the Year awards. Warkworth Police youth aid officer Constable John Williams nominated the group. He says Springboard has expanded to offer a much more diverse range of services than it did when it started in 2002.
“I’m a huge believer in Springboard,” Constable Williams says. “They help adults, youth, offenders and kids with a range of mentoring and education programmes. I was very pleased they were semi-finalists.”
Springboard was one of six semi-finalists and three finalists from 129 nominations. Founder Gary Diprose received a Kiwibank ‘Local Hero’ award last November. He said Springboard was the only organisation north of Auckland to make it into the finals.
“It’s an honour to be recognised with the best in the nation. I would like to thank the community for their support and encouragement of our young people to reach for their goals,” Mr Diprose said.
