Our Story
The Trust was established by hard work, commitment, taking more than a few risks, listening to advice; mixing this with instinct, and of course, more hard work by the founders David and Lorraine Gardner.
David and Lorraine’s story started from humble beginnings with a milk run in Gisborne in the 1970s. This was the story of many New Zealand families back then, but we know that it cannot be everyone’s. We also know that challenges facing young people are bigger than they were for our generation.
Why we do it
There are many amazing stories about New Zealanders overcoming adversity to achieve great things. We understand that this is often the exception, rather than the rule.
For young people dealing with childhood poverty, trauma, limited educational opportunities, or parents that have their own challenges - the starting line is not in plain sight. For some young people the barriers in front of them seem too high to climb over. While our intervention is only a small part of the supports young adults need, we hope it can be a valuable part of the solution.
