The Acorn Foundation is today extending their support across the region with $370,000 going towards local organisations in the latest funding round.

This latest funding allocation brings the total distributed since Acorn's inception to nearly $2million.

Acorn Foundation general manager Nicky Wilkins.

Acorn Foundation general manager Nicky Wilkins says this year's funding distributions will see 73 different organisations across the region receive financial support.

'To be able to help these different organisations is an amazing tribute to the generosity of people from within our own community.

'It is a real testament to ordinary people who, through Acorn, are making an extraordinary difference to people's lives.”

Organisations to benefit this year include the Pukehina Charitable Trust, set up to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gate Pa - possibly the most significant 19th Century event leading to the establishment of Tauranga City.

The Parenting Place, which delivers courses to help people to be the best parents they can be, and Tauranga Community Housing Trust, which works to provide quality, sustainable housing solutions across all sectors.

Around half of Acorn's donors have nominated one or more charities to benefit from their annual distributions.

'One such organisation to benefit from this is the Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind. Annual distributions to the local branch have grown from one donor and $670 in 2009, to $13,570 from four different donors this year.

'This type of support is invaluable, as it is sustainable and provides the highly sought after operational funding that charities need in order to operate.”

Equally valuable is the 'unrestricted” funding from donors who are happy for the Acorn Foundation to determine where the need is currently greatest.

'This allows for smaller organisations that often fly beneath the radar to also have a chance of being funded - organisations such as Vincent House in Te Puke, which supports people to move safely and confidently back into the community after a period of crisis; and Detour Theatre Trust, which is a vibrant contributor to the local arts scene.”