About the organisation 

The Southland Christmas Parade was set up in 1999. 

Numerous community groups participate in the parade which travels through the main streets of Invercargill’s CBD every year. 

Each year Westpac staff conduct a street collection as part of the parade with all proceeds donated to a nominated charity. 

This year, Bellyful was the nominated charity.  Bellyful provides home-cooked meals to families with newborn babies and families with young children who are struggling with illness, where there is little or no family or social support. 

 What the grant went towards 

Southland Christmas Parade Charitable Trust received a grant of $11,000 from the ILT Foundation towards management of the 2018 Christmas Parade held on Saturday, December 1. 

This is the eleventh year the ILT Foundation has supported the Christmas parade. 

 What the grant means to the organisation/community group 

“For us the parade signifies the start of Christmas and the holiday spirit in Southland and brings Christmas cheer,” Southland Christmas Parade event organiser Alice Pottinger said. 

“The support from the Foundation and Invercargill Licensing Trust allows us to run a smooth event, taking away all the stress that comes from not having enough funding.”