What would you do if you won Lotto? Many of us dream of what we’d do, which is just what happened to Lyall when he found himself with an unexpected windfall from a Lotto Strike ticket. After putting aside some for himself, Lyall, a local Whangārei resident, quickly decided to give away the rest and set about looking for a charity who could help.
It can be hard to give well and to find the best place to give a donation with a lasting impact towards a particular cause, so Lyall took to google to do some research.
He explained, “I was looking for charities in Northland, and I found the Northland Community Foundation. Then I was chatting with a friend who mentioned the Foundation, and gave very positive feedback, which gave me the confidence to reach out”. After reading through the list of endowment funds, Lyall realised he could establish his own fund which would contribute to the cause he chose –forever.
He said, “The gift was given to me, so I’m paying it forward. I like the idea that it will be there forever, and grow over time”. Lyall’s gift will establish the Northland Rainbow Community Fund, which will distribute to charities and groups working to support the rainbow community in Northland. His gift will live on forever as an endowment fund managed by the Foundation and invested with Craigs Investment Partners. Each year, the interest earned from the Fund will be given back to the community.
Lyall told the Foundation about why he decided to give back to the Rainbow community, saying: “I grew up prior to the Homosexual Law Reform Act of 1986 and it always felt like society thought there was something wrong with who I was. After the Act was passed, I was grateful to those who fought so hard to bring ‘legitimacy’ to my life. Years later, I was able to meet the strong, brave straight MP and ally, Fran Wilde who managed to bring that Act into law and it was moving for me to be able to thank her in person.
Despite the Act, roughly 40 years later there are still people in the Rainbow community who struggle to be accepted. Now in 2025 I have been given the opportunity to pay forward a gift, and I’ve chosen to do so with the help of Northland Community Foundation, by establishing the Northland Rainbow Community Fund.”
Thanks to Lyall’s generosity, this Fund will help improve tolerance, inclusion, and support within the Rainbow community in Northland, helping the community continue their journey of acceptance and joy in celebrating who they are.
If you’d like to learn more about starting your own fund for a cause you’re passionate about, get in touch with our team: https://www.northlandcommunityfoundation.org.nz/contact
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