Simplicity Foundation (formerly the Simplicity Charitable Trust) made its first donations this year. As Simplicity grows, so does the funding made to the foundation and we're very happy to announce that $480,000 was distributed between five amazing Kiwi charities.

Here's who we gave to this round:

Trees That Count received $234,000 to plant an additional 36,000 native trees and keep tracking the growing number of Simplicity members. Trees that Count will continue to make sure that the trees we fund are distributed to a range of worthy planting programmes across New Zealand. You can find out more about some of those planting projects here. 

Funding to Upside mentoring will support the expansion of Upside’s Partnership Programme. They help support local community groups to deliver their own youth mentoring programme while taking advantage of the mentoring know-how and support systems that Upside have developed in their 16+ years of operation. The $61,000 donation will allow them to increase their number of partner organisations. You can learn more about Upside mentoring in this video.

Sustainable Coastlines has been operating since 2009 with programmes to support beach clean-ups, fresh-water restoration and litter-free New Zealand. The $60,000 donation will co-fund their ’Love Your Water’ community riparian restoration activities in the Waihou-Piako catchment, which is aiming to improve the health of the Hauraki Gulf.

A $25,000 donation to New Zealand Red Cross (NZRC) will support the establishment of NZRC's Settlement Youth Work Programme in the Wellington area. The Red Cross is the primary provider of community resettlement support for refugees during their first year living in NZ. The youth programme aims to develop skills and leadership capabilities, as well as promote community integration and participation. This donation is an opportunity to support young refugees in New Zealand at a time when we're all deeply concerned by the humanitarian crises we see unfolding across the world.

We also made a one-off donation of $100,000 to the Auckland University Centre for Cancer Research. In February, we lost Peter Neilson, the chair of the Simplicity Foundation, to cancer. Peter led a rich life, making significant contributions in business, politics and philanthropy. He was a huge supporter of Simplicity since day one and he will be greatly missed. The donation was made in his name.

You'll find more information about the Foundation here.