This endowment fund has been established with the Southland Foundation by former Southland couple John and Sue Ward with the aim to strengthen health and wellbeing across the region. This fund will provide annual support to a local health initiative or organisation, helping ensure local Southland communities have improved access to essential health care, service and facilities.
The Heart of the Fund
Southland has a way of staying with people. Its uniqueness, its people, and its hardworking “salt of the earth” values take root, and even when life leads elsewhere, that sense of belonging doesn’t disappear. For John and Sue Ward, Southland remains an inseparable part of their story. The landscapes, the Southland way of life, family, friends, clubs and activities are more than memories, they are foundations. From those foundations grew a feeling of gratitude for the experiences the region has provided them personally and professionally. These pillars have ignited a commitment to give back and fostered a strong sense of responsibility to do so.
Southland, like many regions across New Zealand, faces growing pressures in health and wellbeing. Resources are stretched, needs are increasing, and too many families struggle to access the care they deserve. John and Sue know these challenges are real. They also know that strong communities are built from people who care enough to act.
About This Fund
As a donor-directed fund, annual distributions in perpetuity will go to an initiative that addresses local health needs; this may include preventative health programmes, essential equipment, outreach services, support and care facilities, and community-led projects aimed at improving wellbeing. The fund is designed to create a lasting impact and to complement the dedicated work already being carried out by local organisations.
The establishment of this fund marks a significant step toward strengthening Southland community health outcomes and continuing a legacy of care, connection, and shared responsibility. It demonstrates that by supporting the communities that shaped our beginnings, we contribute to their future and honour our own journey.
Giving in perpetuity through the Southland Foundation ensures your gift has a lasting impact. Carefully invested over time, your contribution grows and continues to support the causes you care about year after year. Guided by the Foundation’s commitment to responsible stewardship, legacy, and sustainability, this form of giving aligns your wishes with the evolving needs of the community, creating a meaningful difference for generations to come.
