The First Foundation – A Hand Up to Study and Work

First Foundation enables students who have plenty of talent but few financial resources the opportunity to participate in a tertiary education. General manager Anthony Ford left the corporate world in 2009 and now helps teenagers achieve their educational and personal goals through the Foundation, a position he finds extremely rewarding.

Working with low-decile schools, the organisation focuses on building better futures for young New Zealanders through a programme of scholarships and internships from socially responsible companies. The process begins in the last year of secondary schooling by providing young people with financial assistance and exposure to the world of work. As many of these students are the first in their family to attend a tertiary education provider, the Foundation also helps them to navigate through the complex transition to tertiary education. The relationships with their sponsor company provide employment opportunities on graduation.

Since its establishment in 1998, the First Foundation has changed the lives of 262 students throughout New Zealand. The future vision for the Foundation is to provide more scholarships to eligible New Zealand students. By making changes at the grassroots level, Anthony Ford and the First Foundation are providing young Kiwis with strong future opportunities.

Funding support from: business and trusts