Annual Report of Bethlehem Foundation for year ending 30th June 2009

It hardly seems a year since we wrote the report for the year ending June 08; so much has occurred that time has flown. We have been privileged to again assist in the gathering of resources to “Invest in building lives” – the new tag line which the Foundation adopted during the year. We are grateful to the many that have supported our endeavours and give God the glory for the outcomes achieved.

Community involvement

A primary goal has continued to be to ensure that our community are aware of the educational activities undertaken through the entities owned by the Christian Education Trust. In addition to the ongoing programme of hosting central and local government representatives, and professional and corporate leaders, on visits to the campus, and seeking to maximise media coverage of “Bethlehem”, we have this year launched two major promotional activities:

www.bethlehemfoundation.org.nz is the Foundation’s highly attractive and much commended new website which has seen our weekly traffic grow from 10-12 “hits” per week to several hundred in most weeks and a recent peak of over 1200. The site is also slowly emerging to be a portal from which other Bethlehem sites are accessed;

and the Foundation now publishes an electronic newsletter each month which now reaches over 1,200 supporters, parents of past pupils , and alumni.

A key feature of the website is an eleven minute virtual tour of the campus which although it shows our beautiful buildings and grounds, focuses primarily on the staff and pupils of the campus and on the things which make Bethlehem “special”. This was conceived by the Foundation, shot by a College staff and student team, and has background music composed by Kathryn Lauder, Head of the Music department. Already updated once during the year it is about to be again further updated.

Campus Development

The Environmental Reserve or Conservation Project was again supported by Environment BOP’s Enhancement Fund and is now, after three years of development, just months away from completion; it also received the second place award in the 2009 EBOP Environment Awards. It will thus be no surprise that the Foundation, EBOP, and College Environment team have recently commenced planning for a further project which it is hoped will result in improved wetlands access and siltration of water flows through the site, further enhancing the beauty and accessibility of our campus.

Also looking to the future we have commenced planning for, and cooperation with the several territorial local authorities involved, in respect of a potential new water-sports facility adjacent to the river.

Funding

We continue to seek to grow a long-term capital fund and by year-end have six legacy commitments which in due course will materially benefit the Foundation’s funds and yield an ongoing flow of income which the Foundation will be able to distribute.

However, inevitably this year material effort has also gone into more immediate projects. In addition to gifts in kind, and with various routings – not all directly through the Foundation’s accounts – we have been able to raise over $200,000 for the fit-out of the new Performing Arts Centre, $37,000 for the development of a new Early Childhood Diploma course at the Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, over $70,000 for the Foundation’s Secondary Scholarships to Bethlehem College, $3,700 for Primary Scholarships, $19,000 for scholarships to Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, $20,000 for assorted projects and equipment for the College and Tertiary Institute, $12,000 for equipment for our Early Childhood centres, $390,000 for a future Capital Project, and $58,000 for Foundation funds – a total of over $800,000. We have also earned in excess of $27,800 in interest and dividends on our investments and the value of our assets is now close to $1.1 million.

Scholarships

For the 2009 academic year we have been privileged to award sixteen Secondary and four Primary scholarships to Bethlehem College, three to Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, and grant minor assistance to several recipients. All have been granted on the basis of financial need. The College scholarships included the Foundation’s first award of a scholarship on the recommendation of the iwi of Tauranga Moana.

Bethlehem Early Learning Centres

A significant partnership with the Ministry of Social Development has been negotiated and implemented during the year for our four Early Learning Centres. In this scheme a number of ex-recipients of the Domestic Purposes Benefit were selected and underwent preliminary training by the BOP Poly at MSD’s cost. Four have now been placed in subsidised employment with our centres and another four with Anglican Social Services, and it is expected that they will later this year commence – while still working at these centres part-time – to undertake the new Early Childhood Diploma course at Bethlehem Tertiary. It has been rewarding to see this scheme develop and the recipients’ lives and futures enhanced.

We have also been able to obtain additional equipment for two of the centres, partly through the “Wish List feature on the Foundation’s website, and also by obtaining a generous grant from the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust for the benefit of the Amazing Place centre in Rotorua, which joined the Bethlehem family during 2008.

Through the magnificent generosity of two donors we have also been able to acquire a site in Te Puna at which we hope that it will be possible to construct an open a fifth Early Learning centre at a future date.

Bethlehem Tertiary Institute

Our efforts this year have focused primarily around the provision of funding for their development of a new centre-based Diploma in Early Childhood teaching, and through the MSD-funded scheme already referenced, the provision of a potential core of students for the first entrants to that course.

Bethlehem College

The major focus has, of course, been on the funding of the fit-out costs of the now open Performing Arts Centre (PAC). We acknowledge with great appreciation the generosity of the purchasers of over 120 seats, and the major grants received from BayTrust; Legacy Foundation; Lion Foundation; New Zealand Community Trust; Perry Foundation; Pub Charities Inc.; and Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust, as well as many other contributors. We have appreciated the support of functions hosted by the Farmer Motor Group; Pharmacists Guild; and the medical profession.

We have also been able to provide or obtain the funding for sponsorship of the College Speech Contest (supported by Harris Tate); a memorial window in the Chapel for the College’s 20th year (Nancy and Jack Hogg); and a variety of sports and music equipment.

We were privileged to co-host this year’s bi-annual Grandparents’ Day at which there was an amazing turnout – an indication of the family support which the College enjoys.

The music department has benefited greatly from gifts in kind – notably the permanent loan of a magnificent Bosendorfer Grand Piano from Tauranga City Council, and of instruments and interest from Mr Colin Smith.

Recognising the importance which the College places on service to others the Foundation has initiated and presented an annual cup and book award for “Foundation Service” by a student.

Just prior to year-end we co-hosted the first of what will be many “new parents’ dinners” giving parents whose children have joined the Bethlehem family in the past term the opportunity to get a greater understanding from the Principal himself of what we seek to share with their children while they are with us, and from the Foundation the importance of the parents playing their part in its work.

Foundation

The Foundation has continued to be governed by a Board of Trustees who serve without fee and provide much guidance and assistance. This year saw Mr Gary Curtis resign and we welcomed Mr Stephen Tetley-Jones to replace him as the College’s nominee. We have also been pleased to add to our number Mrs Helen Gregory, serving as an independent member. Mr Kevin Wearne has continued as our much valued Chair, and other trustees who have continued to serve are Mr Stephan Bosman, Mr John McDougall (CET nominee), Mr Turi Ngatai (BTI nominee), and Mrs Theresa Tingey. We have also this year had our resources extended by the voluntary administrative support of Mrs Nicola Ponder.

We continue to be served – all without charge – by Lellman Wearne Curragh Ltd as our accountants, ABN AMRO Craigs as our investment advisors (our particular thanks go to their Mr Murray Birkett), and Harris Tate as our legal advisors. Our auditor continues to be Mr Bill Murphy ACA who receives only a nominal fee.

We are well blessed with supporters. The many corporates who contribute their skills and financial support include the Bay of Plenty Times, Eves Realty, Ambienti, and the Sebel who together make possible our Annual Photo Auction (part of the proceeds from which will this year go to Homes of Hope), and BNZ who sponsor our annual donor function.

Throughout the year we have continued to support the restructuring and development of what is now known as the Waipa Christian School in Te Awamutu, and more recently of Matamata Christian School, both of which pay for these services. Other entities given assistance have included Hastings Christian School and Sonrise School in Gisborne.

The Foundation has continued to serve on the SmartGrowth Strategic Partners Forum, the Campus Media and Cultural Committees, and to seek to assist the CET in the exploration of potential projects and opportunities. We also act as the registrar for all Bethlehem entities in respect of reporting to the Charities Commission.

We anticipate that audited accounts will be available in late September on request.

Peter Wyatt MNZM Secretary

30th June 2009

A Word from the Chair

It has been my pleasure to chair a very able Board served by a highly innovative and effective Secretary. Together, significant results have been achieved, particularly in a time when corporates and individuals are experiencing financial pressures. I recently read some American research which confirmed that in tough economic times, and even during the great depression, philanthropists continued to fund deserving charities, and often stretched their resources to ensure that worthwhile initiatives survived. The generosity of the Foundation’s supporters continues to amaze us.

May God continue to bless the Campus and its outreaches, and may those who support Christian education be similarly blessed.

Kevin Wearne Kevin Wearne Chair

30th June 2009