From left to right - Mark McLean, SBS Bank CEO; Kathryn Ball, Chair Southland Foundation and Sir Stephen Tindall, Tindall Foundation
SBS Bank has announced a significant partnership with the Southland Foundation. As a founding partner, SBS Bank will provide a $5 million interest-free loan to fuel the Foundation's establishment and extend its reach deep into the heart of the Southland community. With a legacy deeply rooted in the Southland region for 155 years, SBS Bank's commitment to community well-being aligns seamlessly with the Foundation's vision.
Community Foundations are local, independent, and not-for-profit. They run a well-proven model of giving which has been growing across the world for over 100 years, and they are now established in 18 regions in New Zealand. Community Foundations build long-term, reliable funding streams for their local communities by investing and growing the donations they receive. Southland Foundation is Southland’s Community Foundation. Governed by a group of experienced volunteer trustees, it provides a trustworthy vehicle for Southlanders to contribute to the local causes that they are passionate about. We can all play a role to contribute to a better Southland for all and see this being achieved through the power of giving. The perpetual giving model ensures any gift to the community is everlasting and the impact is forever.
Building a sustainable Community Foundation in Southland is at the core of this transformative partnership. By empowering the Southland Foundation with the resources needed to scale quickly, SBS Bank is playing a pivotal role in shaping a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.
Kathryn Ball, Chair of the Southland Foundation, expressed profound gratitude for SBS Bank's visionary support, stating, "We are immensely grateful for the foresight and generosity of SBS Bank in championing our mission to build a strong Community Foundation here in Southland. Their commitment to investing in our community's future will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy of positive change."
Mark McLean, CEO of SBS Bank, articulated the alignment between SBS Bank's values and the Southland Foundation's long-term vision, "At SBS Bank, we believe in the power of taking a long-term view and investing in the well-being of our communities. Southland has been SBS Bank’s home for the past 155 years and will continue to be into the future. The Southland Foundation shares our commitment to building resilient communities that thrive not just today, but well into the future. We are proud to stand alongside the Foundation in this endeavour and to contribute to its growth and success."
The Southland Foundation believes that together, we can achieve far more than any one individual or organisation. By pooling resources and amplifying our impact, we have the power to create meaningful change on a larger scale, ensuring a prosperous future for Southland.
Every contribution back to Southland through the Southland Foundation becomes a vital building block for creating positive change and shaping a brighter future for all.
