First Foundation Donor for John Paul College Alumni Fund

Former student, Chris Lock, has become the first Foundation Donor of the new John Paul College Alumni Fund. Mr Lock, who left the College 10 years ago, said he was delighted to be able to give back to the College in this way. “I enjoyed my time at the College; one of the highlights was taking part in the YES (Young Enterprise Scheme) programme, which gave me the drive and offered scope for what was possible if I were to go into business.”

Mr Lock now runs a successful printing business with branches in Wellington and Auckland, and supported the recent successful school production of Beauty and the Beast. “I think the Alumni Fund is a great idea for John Paul College and I particularly like the fact that it is perpetual, so the capital is retained forever.”

He plans to make regular donations to the Fund and looks forward to encouraging other former pupils to do the same. “Supporting the alumni fund seems like a great way to mark the important milestone of having left school 10 years ago.”

John Paul College Principal, Patrick Walsh, said the College had recently established the alumni fund with the Geyser Community Foundation, who will manage it. “The alumni fund is a special and powerful way in which students, past and present, their families / whanau, teachers and anyone else who has an interest in helping the School continue to develop can give back for its long term benefit.” Donations made to the named endowment fund will be managed and invested by the Geyser Community Foundation on behalf of John Paul College. Income earned on the capital will be made available to John Paul College for charitable purposes every year once the Fund reaches a minimum of $50,000.

Mr Walsh said the annual income could be used in a number of ways for the benefit of students such as providing scholarships and prizes for academic achievement, providing or improving resources and other facilities at the College or protecting and improving the physical and natural environment of the College. “Income could also be used to provide assistance to school students who are in need or suffering genuine temporary or long-term financial hardship, including anyone who does not have access to the normal things of life that most of us take for granted.”

Donations of any size can be made at any time and from anywhere by credit card on this website or on Geyser’s website

People can also make donations in cash or by cheque for the alumni fund to John Paul College or to the Geyser Community Foundation, telephone 07 349 7496 or email [email protected]

Donors may qualify to receive a tax credit of up to 33.33% (IRD rules apply). Geyser will issue official donations receipts to all donors.

Chris Lock (left), the first foundation donor to the John Paul College Alumni Fund, with school principal Patrick Walsh.