Every so often a room full of people from The West gets together and reminds everyone what community spirit actually looks like. The 2026 Charity Business Luncheon, hosted by Henderson Rotary, brought business and community leaders together in Henderson in support of three causes, with a special guest speaker and a fundraising auction that had plenty of hands in the air. Between auction items, raffle tickets, donations and ticket sales, attendees, sponsors, donors and supporters raised more than $65,000.
That money is going straight to work. A portion supports Henderson Rotary and the range of local community initiatives the club backs across The West.
Another portion goes to Well Foundation, which is working to provide overnight lie-flat chairs for every bed in the Waitākere Hospital Children’s Ward. If you have ever spent a night beside a child in hospital, you will know exactly why this matters. Those chairs mean parents and carers can stay comfortably alongside their tamariki through treatment, rather than trying to make do in a plastic chair until morning.
The third cause is the Don Oliver Youth Sport Foundation, which empowers young people through sport and the opportunities that come with it. For plenty of rangatahi in The West, a bit of support at the right moment is the difference between sitting on the sideline and getting on the field.
We were honoured to attend, and we chipped in a small donation of gift cards towards the auction. That was a modest part of a much bigger effort, and the credit for the result sits squarely with Henderson Rotary, the organising team and everyone who gave.
Congratulations to Henderson Rotary, Well Foundation, the Don Oliver Youth Sport Foundation and everyone involved in putting together such a memorable day.
Learn more about Henderson Rotary at hendersonrotary.co.nz or follow them on Facebook.
If you or your organisation could use support from The Trusts, find out how to apply at thetrusts.co.nz/our-funds.
