My Account
The Mangawhai Opportunity Factory has gifted more than $100,000 to benefit 20 organisations in its first year of operation.
The trust generates its money from an op shop located on Wood Street in Mangawhai, which is run by volunteers.
Denise Davies, Margie Murray and Melane Quigley were inspired to start the project after seeing the success of the Mangawhai Fire Station garage sale.
Within six months, the Opportunity Factory had raised $30,000 and donated it to nine local not-for-profit community groups. In the second half of the year it raised $70,000, which it disbursed to 19 groups.
It held its first birthday event on October 13, attended by Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith and landlord Steve Lay, who leases the op shop building at a discount.
Grant recipients
First round: Mangawhai Activity Zone, Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Services, Mangawhai Recreational Charitable Trust, Mangawhai Tennis Club, Mangawhai Toy Library, Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust, Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade, Rodney North Blue Light Ventures and Te Whai Community Trust.
Second round: Hakaru Branch of Wellsford District Pony Club, Linking Hands, Mangawhai Activity Zone, Mangawhai Army Cadet Unit, Mangawhai Artists, Mangawhai Beach School, Mangawhai Community Garden, Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Services, Mangawhai Library Hall, Mangawhai Mission Trust, Mangawhai Museum and Historical Society, Mangawhai Recreational Charitable Trust, Mangawhai Toy Library, Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust, Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade, NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust, Rodney North Blue Light Ventures, St Marys Catholic Parish and Te Whai Community Trust.
