The Milford Foundation exists to help build a stronger New Zealand for the next generation, and we want our own people to have a direct hand in that. In June 2026, every team was invited to choose a charity supporting children and young people with a donation of up to $10,000 – a charity with a personal connection to someone within the team, not simply a name from a list.
We supported 22 charities all across New Zealand with $200,000 gifted to communities in June.
Our Impact
Read more about these great charities doing important work in their communities, and why our teams chose them. We’re proud to have played a small part in supporting them this year.
- Good Night, Sleep Tight — Provides winter sleepwear and bedding to children in need, helping keep vulnerable children warm at night. The gift was chosen to help keep children warm during the coldest months.
- Path Wānaka — Supports teenagers by strengthening the support around them and acting as a local hub for youth and families. Several of those who chose it are parents who have seen its impact on children and young people in their own community firsthand.
- Wānaka Community Hub, Cold Kids Campaign — Connects children and families to services, food support and community networks that reduce hardship and improve stability. Chosen by parents in the community who have seen its work directly.
- The Acorn Project, Hawke’s Bay — Provides wraparound support for young people affected by cancer, including one-to-one support, peer connection and camps. Cancer has touched this group both directly and indirectly, and that’s why they chose it.
- Kindness Collective Foundation, PJ Project — Helps families facing hardship through practical support for children, including warm clothing, food and other essentials. Chosen in response to rising hardship seen across New Zealand.
- Great Potentials Foundation — Supports children and families in South Auckland through home tutoring, mentoring and family service centres. Chosen because it has been a quiet constant in some of Auckland’s toughest communities.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand — Pairs volunteer mentors with children who need extra support, offering friendship and guidance. Chosen from a shared belief in the value of positive role modelling.
- Upside Youth Mentoring Aotearoa — Supports young people aged nine to thirteen through long-term one-to-one mentoring with trained volunteers. Chosen for its focus on early intervention, helping young people before challenges deepen.
- Springboard — Provides wraparound support for vulnerable young people, helping them build wellbeing and belonging. Chosen for creating real opportunities and pathways to success.
- I Have A Dream — Supports children in low-decile school communities through long-term mentoring and life skills. Chosen because its support reaches every child in the communities it serves.
- Starship Foundation — Raises funds for life-saving care, research and treatment for critically ill and injured children at Starship Hospital. Chosen because of a direct connection to the hospital’s work.
- Kick Back Make Change — Provides wraparound support for homeless youth in Auckland, including wellbeing, finance and housing support. Chosen by people who see young people waiting outside its doors daily.
- Heart Kids New Zealand Charitable Trust — Supports children born with or diagnosed with heart conditions, and their families, throughout their care journey. This one is personal: a team member’s own daughter has been supported by Heart Kids throughout hers.
- Youth in Transition — Supports young people aged 10 to 24 experiencing mental health challenges through counselling, coping strategies, life skills, and suicide prevention support. Chosen because of the team’s strong commitment to youth mental health and the belief that young people deserve support to build confidence, resilience, and positive futures.
- Level Playing Field — Helps rangatahi participate in sport and physical activity by covering barriers such as fees, equipment, coaching, and travel costs. Chosen because the team has seen the value of sport in shaping young people’s confidence, wellbeing, and opportunities, and wants more children to have access regardless of circumstance.
- Big Buddy Mentoring — Provides mentoring for boys who do not have fathers in their lives through trained volunteer mentors. Chosen because of a belief in the importance of positive male role models and strong support networks for young people.
- Assistance Dogs New Zealand — Trains and places assistance dogs with children with disabilities, helping them live more safely and independently. Chosen following the significant impact an assistance dog had on one team member’s family, with a desire to help other children experience the same support and independence.
- ReSport Charitable Trust — Repurposes donated sporting equipment so more children and young people can access sport, recreation, and play. Chosen for its practical approach to removing barriers to participation while reducing waste and strengthening communities.
- The Kids in Need Waikato Charitable Trust — Provides personalised care packs for children and families experiencing hardship, with essentials tailored to each child’s needs. Chosen because of the direct and immediate difference it makes for children and families facing challenging circumstances.
- Kindness Collective Foundation (Tauranga & Rotorua) — Helps families facing hardship through practical support for children and young people, including warm clothing, food, and other essentials. Chosen by the local team to support vulnerable children and families in their own communities.
- Life Education Trust Hutt Valley — Delivers education that helps young people make informed choices about health, wellbeing, mental health, bullying, and other life challenges. Chosen because the team has seen its impact firsthand and believes it plays an important role in supporting young people and schools.
- Birkenhead United Association Football Club — A volunteer-led football club offering programmes that build skills, confidence, connection, and physical activity for children and young people. Chosen because it holds deep personal significance for a team member’s family and is seen as a place where young people grow and thrive.