SUMMER 2020 | ISSUE 18 Give the gift of goodness this Christmas! Considering community support this Christmas? For many of us, Christmas means summer, direct donation into the Acorn Vital family, BBQ’s and pudding. But for others, it Impact Fund which provides funding Acorn farewells Andy Cameron can be a lonely, expensive and stressful time each year to those organisations of year. At Acorn, we really want to drive the providing support to those most in need. and Dean Camplin spirit of Christmas giving to help those for In 2020, this list included Grief Support Two long-time volunteers retire in funds under management of $36.4M and whom this time of year brings little joy. Services, St Peter’s House, KidsCan November after eight dedicated years of distributed $1.85M - more than a five- Charitable Trust and Sustainability Many people struggle to find the perfect gift service to the Acorn Foundation. Andy fold increase of both measures. Andy Options. each year - particularly for those friends and Cameron has served as a Trustee and a and Dean have been integral to Acorn’s family members who may want for very little. • For businesses, have you thought of member of the Distributions Committee, success, and we will always appreciate What if the solution was to make a donation replacing client gifts with a donation to a where he acted as Chair from 2014 to their time and wise counsel to help the to a favourite charity on their behalf? We charitable organisation? An 2018. Dean Camplin has served on the foundation develop. All the best to them can’t stress enough the good feelings that announcement of your gift would make Investment Advisory Committee since both! come with giving, and what a great time of a great addition to your corporate 2012. When Andy and Dean joined year to show generosity. Christmas cards. Or perhaps you simply Acorn, there was $6.7M There are many ways Acorn can help with want to make a Christmas donation on in invested funds, and your giving plans: behalf of your company and your staff to the foundation create a sense of pride, community • For individuals or families, you might distributed awareness and compassion as we head choose to make a pass-through donation $373,000 to the into the summer months. on behalf of a friend or relative to a community. At the charity they are passionate about. A Whatever your choice may be, Acorn close of the financial donation to one of the 47 community supports it, and our team is more than happy year in June 2020, group funds listed on our website will to help you get your donation to those who Acorn had help it build towards a guaranteed future will truly appreciate it over the Christmas income. You can also choose to make a period. Therapy dogs are busy supporting their best friends Therapy Dogs New Zealand (TDNZ) started They are cute, funny and easy to train and The dog becomes a friend who seems to a journey in July 2018 to enable Kiwis to live take out socially. They have a soft understand, doesn’t judge and will offer their best lives by offering any child, adult or expression and are gentle; Labradoodles ongoing friendship and companionship, family access to a partially trained therapy only weigh 16-20kgs for the medium size even when the child is not coping, dog at a cost that is more financially and 25kgs for a standard size. The other misbehaves, hides under the bed or is accessible than other options. TDNZ most important factor for choosing this upset. When this happens, the puppy will purchases the puppies and trains them breed is their hypo-allergenic wool coat. run towards him or her to interrupt the until they are seven months of age. They Anyone normally allergic to dog hair is 99% behaviour. then provide clients with the training, likely to not be allergic to a Labradoodle Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, fundraising assistance and support to finish due to their non-shedding wool coat. It was TDNZ has seen an increase of applications the training of their therapy dog via follow- important to TDNZ that no one is precluded for therapy dogs from all over NZ and now up phone calls, monthly visits, then annual from applying for a therapy dog, even those has 29 people on its waiting list. There are check-ups once the dog matures. clients with allergies. so many people suffering with severe Therapy dogs support those suffering from With mainstream schooling, children with anxiety and, in most cases, this leads to disabilities, autism, asperger’s, oppositional autism and anxiety symptoms need to fit in panic attacks, depression and a reluctance defiance disorder (ODD) in children, ADHD, to a world that differs from their perception. to leave the home. A child with anxiety will global developmental delay, dyslexia, But living in a modern, noisy and fast paced need to sit or lie down wherever he or she pair have developed a very close bond and kobuki syndrome, chronic regional pain world, these children become increasingly is, and our puppies will, on command, lay relationship with each other. TDNZ syndrome (CRIPS), post-traumatic stress overwhelmed as they try to cope day-to- across the legs or chest of a child or adult or currently has 19 therapy dogs that are in disorder, cerebral palsy, depression, border day. This situation leads to explosive jump up and put their paws on the client, forever homes with clients nationwide, and line personality disorder, suicidal ideation, meltdowns, frustration, anger and the applying pressure through their own body they have seven more puppies in training. terminal cancer/illness and, the most inability to regulate their emotions until weight. The client will hold the dog close Therapy Dogs New Zealand aims to common condition having a profound they arrive home to a safe place to let go. A until the shaking subsides. TDNZ’s puppies, increase the number of puppies it can train effect on all disorders listed above, is therapy dog, just by being close, snuggly at just 9 months of age, can warn a client of to meet the demand, without losing the anxiety. and able to go anywhere with a family, an impending panic attack on their own quality of its service. TDNZ uses only Labradoodle puppies as provides comfort, deep companionship, without any formal training. The dogs do In 2020, funding for Therapy Dogs came they are a family friendly breed that is and most of all, a reduction in anxiety this by sensing a change (or a mannerism) from the B. Burns & A. Johston Fund. intelligent, sensitive and highly affectionate symptoms to prevent the child from getting in their owner using their natural intuition. with a love of people, especially children. overwhelmed and then having a meltdown. This alert occurs quite naturally once the Connecting generous people who care, with causes that matter - Forever Page 1 Professional Advisors’ Breakfast Professional advisors are incredibly Bill Holland, Holland Beckett: Michelle Malcolm, Findex Tauranga: important to our team as many Acorn donors Bill discussed the benefits of transferring Michelle shared her knowledge around some who have left gifts in their Will are introduced charitable trusts to the Acorn Foundation. of the hidden fishhooks in trusts when to the foundation by local solicitors, These benefits include Acorn’s in-depth beneficiaries or trustees are located overseas accountants or financial advisors who take knowledge of the needs of the community (example: beneficiaries who reside in the time to understand their clients’ giving and the organisations who support our Australia and receive property via a trust will goals. region, the elimination of onerous reporting be required to pay Australian capital gains planning a financial investment portfolio. In mid-October, we were delighted to be requirements - particularly with new Trust tax). We really appreciate our speakers for taking joined by over 30 local professional advisors laws in 2021 - and the potential for greater Guy Malthus, Craigs Investment Partners: the time to share their knowledge with other for a breakfast session hosted by Findex investment returns when combining a trust’s An Acorn donor himself - and Acorn's professional advisors and thank Findex Tauranga. A big thank you to those who assets with Acorn’s investment portfolio investment portfolio manager for the past 17 Tauranga for hosting our event in their attended, and particularly to our guest managed by Craigs Investment Partners. years - Guy shared some tips around wonderful new office on Grey Street! speakers: discussing giving goals with clients when Community Group Funds are a great Businesses way to support your favourite cause are making a Community groups across our region are managed by passionate people who believe community impact strongly in the cause they support. However, funding is almost always a challenge, as Companies all across the region are seeking these groups have little guaranteed income to count on each year. Raising money to fund out ways to contribute to the community. their operations is often time-consuming and a big distraction from their main purpose, Acorn is well supported by many businesses, which is to support the community. An Acorn Community Group Fund can provide large and small. Craigs Investment Partners guaranteed long-term income, which is incredibly valuable. Anyone can donate to these and KPMG have initiated Workplace Giving funds at any time – details are on the Acorn website. Current groups include: programmes, as has the Executive team at Creative Community the BOP Regional Council. Cooney Lees Realtor Jim • Creative Bay of Plenty • Acorn COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund Morgan has long contributed to their Acorn • Tauranga Art Gallery Foundation • Acorn Vital Impact Fund fund with partners and staff both involved.